Disappointed Fitzgerald to start in Leinster friendly

Luke Fitzgerald will start for Leinster in tomorrow night's pre-season friendly against Northampton Saints, just days after being left out of Ireland's 30-man World Cup squad.

Fitzgerald is one of just two players who started the Heineken Cup final against the Saints in May that are set to line out, the other being Kevin McLoughlin at blindside flanker.

Leinster's starting team features two players selected by Ireland coach Declan Kidney to fly out to New Zealand, namely Sean Cronin and Isaac Boss at hooker and scrum half.

Cronin is joined in the front row by Heinke van der Merwe and Jamie Hagan, while Damian Browne, a former Northampton player, makes his debut for the side with Stephen Sykes in the second row.

The team is captained by young back rower Rhys Ruddock, who starts at eight, with McLoughlin and Dominic Ryan on the flanks.

Boss' halfback partner will be Ian Madigan, while Eamonn Sheridan and Eoin O'Malley make up a youthful centre partnership.

The team is completed by new signing Fionn Carr on the wing, and Andrew Conway starting at full back.

LEINSTER:

15: Andrew Conway

14: Fionn Carr

13: Eoin O’Malley

12: Eamonn Sheridan

11: Luke Fitzgerald

10: Ian Madigan

9: Isaac Boss

1: Heinke van der Merwe

2: Sean Cronin

3: Jamie Hagan

4: Damian Browne

5: Steven Sykes

6: Kevin McLaughlin

7: Dominic Ryan

8: Rhys Ruddock CAPTAIN

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Aaron Dundon

17: Jack McGrath/Simon Shawe

18: Jack O’Connell

19: Devin Toner

20: Shane Jennings

21: John Cooney/Cillian Willis

22: Mat Berquist

23: Brendan Macken

24: Jason Harris-Wright

25: Mark Flanagan

26: Leo Auva’a

27: Darren Hudson