Heaslip to lead experienced Leinster side

Jamie Heaslip will captain the Leinster team to face Cardiff Blues in tomorrow evening's RaboDirect PRO12 clash in City Stadium (6.15pm).

Head coach Joe Schmidt has picked a team which includes 12 Ireland internationals for the trip to the Welsh capital this weekend.

Following on from the recent PRO12 interprovincial derby victories over Ulster and Connacht over the holiday season, Kevin McLaughlin partners Sean O'Brien and Heaslip in the back-row with Cian Healy lining up with Sean Cronin and Mike Ross in the front row.

Eoin Reddan partners Jonathan Sexton at half back, while Gordon D'Arcy returns to the line up to partner Fergus McFadden at centre.

Brothers Dave and Rob Kearney are joined by Andrew Conway to form an attacking back three.

Isa Nacewa is named on a bench alongside the likes of Isaac Boss and Rhys Ruddock.

Leinster (v Cardiff): R Kearney; D Kearney, F McFadden, G D’Arcy, A Conway; J Sexton, E Reddan; C Healy, S Cronin, M Ross; D Browne, D Toner; K McLaughlin, S O’Brien, J Heaslip (c).

Replacements: A Dundon, H van der Merwe, J Hagan, R Ruddock, L Auva’a, I Boss, I Nacewa, F Carr.