Irish contingent back for Leinster clash against injury strewn Dragons

BACK IN ACTION: Dan Sheehan is one of five returning Irish players to Leo Cullen's side. Pic: ©INPHO/Ben Brady

And so it begins. Leinster got on just fine without their Ireland contingent through the opening weeks of the season. An opening loss in Glasgow was rectified with a pair of victories but the handover starts at Rodney Parade tomorrow.

Five of Andy Farrell’s World Cup squad return to blue for this URC clash. Dan Sheehan captains the province for the first time and he is joined by Jimmy O’Brien, Ross Byrne, Joe McCarthy and Ryan Baird. Sheehan aside, none played a whole lot in France.

“Irish rugby is becoming the envy of everyone in rugby, the number of athletes and top-quality players they produce,” said Dragons head coach Dai Flanagan. “Leinster players, specifically, when they wear that shirt, it doesn’t matter if you're first or fourth choice, there is an expectation of a certain performance.

“They have a very well-rounded game, can play in the rain, play in the dry, they can drive, they can kick, they can play expansive. We are preparing to make sure we're on the money for whatever comes.” 

The hosts welcome their own fleet of high-end vehicles back from Test duties with the Welsh quartet of Elliot Dee, Dan Lydiate, Aaron Wainwright and Rio Dyer all named in the XV for a side that has only two losing bonus points to show for their efforts to date.

The Dragons have 15 players unavailable through injury and it is difficult to see Leo Cullen’s side returning across the Irish Sea with anything less than another victory before they turn into a more challenging run of fixtures.

That should concentrate the mind for the rump of those who continue to make up the matchday squad for now, not least the inexperienced trio of scrum-half Ben Murphy, loosehead Jack Boyle and No.8 James Culhane. They boast just 15 caps between them.

Another clutch of greenhorns will be called from the bench at some stage and contact and skills coach Sean O’Brien has been thrilled with the squad in the absence of the billboard names.

“Most of those younger guys, they’ve a great appetite for the game. Great appetite for defending, great appetite in attack. They’ve been successful at underage level as well. It’s good to have that and there’s a bit about them.

“They’re competitive at training. They don’t mind if it’s a senior guy in their way. That’s what you want. They’re very good, very enthusiastic about the whole set-up and they’re training really hard.” 

Dragons: C Evans; R Dyer, S Hughes, A Owen, J Rosser, W Reed, R Williams; R Jones, E Dee, L Fairbrother, M Screech, G Nott, D Lydiate, T Basham, A Wainwright.

Leinster: C Frawley; T O’Brien, J Osborne, C Ngatai, J O’Brien; R Byrne, B Murphy; J Boyle, D Sheehan, T Clarkson; J McCarthy, J Jenkins; R Baird, W Connors, J Culhane.

Referee: G Gnecchi (Italy).