Leinster in good health ahead of Biarritz visit

Joe Schmidt will have close to a full strength squad to choose from for Saturday’s Amlin Challenge Cup semi final against Biarritz Olympique in the RDS (2.30pm).

Fergus McFadden and Jonathan Sexton will both be available for selection after coming through last weekend’s win over Zebre unscathed.

The province will be boosted by the return of a number of internationals who were rested for trip to Italy, including Sean Cronin, Gordon D’Arcy, Cian Healy, Jamie Heaslip, Ian Madigan, Sean O’Brien and Mike Ross, as well as skipper Leo Cullen.

Richardt Strauss was an injury concern, after suffering a stamp on his left hand during Sunday’s bonus victory in Italy, but the Ireland hooker is expected to make a full recovery by Saturday.

One player unlikely to feature this weekend is Dave Kearney, who has yet to return to on-field training, after the concussion he suffered in the game against Munster.

Saturday’s game will be Leinster’s sixth meeting with Biarritz, with the blues shading the contests by three to two.

The team will be named at midday on Friday following the Captain’s Run.