Leinster field all-Ireland backline v Ospreys – team confirmed!

Leinster fans will face Ospreys during round 13 of the Magners League

The Leinster team to face the Ospreys in Friday night’s Magners League clash in the RDS (KO: 7.35pm) has been named. Luke Fitzgerald starts at full-back in an all-Ireland qualified backline for the visit of the Ospreys in a game which will mark the province’s 50th competitive encounter in the RDS. Fitzgerald lines up in a back three which includes Shane Horgan and Fergus McFadden, with Brian O’Driscoll partnering Gordon D’Arcy at centre and Jonathan Sexton partnering Eoin Reddan at half-back.
Leo Cullen skippers the side and lines up at second row with Devin Toner, with Dominic Ryan coming into the back-row alongside Shane Jennings and Jamie Heaslip.

Isaac Boss, Nathan Hines and Rhys Ruddock are named on a bench which contains a mix of youth and experience and adecision on the final outside back replacement will be made closer to kick off.

As part of a special promotion, any supporters who have a match ticket for Friday’s game or a valid season ticket membership card for this year and are driving a Volkswagen car can park in the Simmonscourt Car Park for free.

Ticket sales are approaching the 16,000 mark and are on sale online from www.leinsterrugby.ie, Spar (Donnybrook), the Leinster Rugby Store (Donnybrook), Champion Sports (Grafton Street) as well as Ticketmaster outlets nationwide. Tickets will also be on sale from outlets on Simmonscourt Road and Anglesea Road from 4.30pm on Friday.

LEINSTER:
15: Luke Fitzgerald
14: Shane Horgan
13: Brian O’Driscoll
12: Gordon D’Arcy
11: Fergus McFadden
10: Jonathan Sexton
9: Eoin Reddan
1: Cian Healy
2: Richardt Strauss
3: Mike Ross
4: Leo Cullen CAPTAIN
5: Devin Toner
6: Dominic Ryan
7: Shane Jennings
8: Jamie Heaslip

REPLACEMENTS:
16: Jason Harris-Wright
17: Heinke van der Merwe
18: Clint Newland
19: Nathan Hines
20: Rhys Ruddock
21: Isaac Boss
22: Ian Madigan
23: Eoin O’Malley/Isa Nacewa

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Fitzgerald gets a start for Leinster

Leinster have named a strong side for their Magners League clash with defending champions, the Ospreys, in a match that will mark the province’s 50th competitive encounter in the RDS.

Luke Fitzgerald starts at fullback in an all-Ireland qualified backline, as wings Shane Horgan and Fergus McFadden make up the rest of the back three, with Brian O’Driscoll partnering Gordon D’Arcy at centre and Jonathan Sexton and Eoin Reddan as the two halfbacks.

Leo Cullen skippers the side and lines up at second row with Devin Toner, with Dominic Ryan coming into the back row alongside Shane Jennings and Jamie Heaslip.

In the front row, Heinke van der Merwe and Clint Newland have made way for Ireland internationals Cian Healy and Mike Ross.

Isaac Boss, Nathan Hines and Rhys Ruddock have been named on a replacements bench which contains a mix of youth and experience and a decision on the final outside back replacement will be made closer to kick-off.

Leinster forwards coach Jono Gibbes said: "They [the Ospreys] have shown they have grown and developed and can withstand a bit of pressure.

"They were also able to get back into the game through the scrum, which seems to have grown another arm and a leg. They seem to have gained confidence out of it.

"We have had a nice little bit of growth with our scrum this season but every game is a little bit different. They could come with different tactics.

"The referee could interpret things a little bit differently. We need to be adaptable but we need to be focused or we could get embarrassed at home."

Emphasising that point, flanker Shane Jennings added: "If we take our eye off the Ospreys, they will do a job on us. The last time they came over here, they won the league. It's a game we're looking forward to.

"The Ospreys also beat us over there a few weeks ago. So we're up for a big, big game. They have a very good team, a very good squad.

"Whatever lads come over we know we are in for a tough game. Every game for us is big because we are fighting to get into those top-four positions."

Leinster: 15 Luke Fitzgerald, 14 Shane Horgan, 13 Brian O’Driscoll, 12 Gordon D’Arcy, 11 Fergus McFadden, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Shane Jennings, 6 Dominic Ryan, 5 Devin Toner, 4 Leo Cullen (Captain), 3 Mike Ross, 2 Richardt Strauss, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements: 16 Jason Harris-Wright, 17 Heinke van der Merwe, 18 Clint Newland, 19 Nathan Hines, 20 Rhys Ruddock, 21 Isaac Boss, 22 Ian Madigan, 23 Eoin O’Malley/Isa Nacewa.

Date: Friday, January 7
Venue: Royal Dublin Society
Kick-off: 19.35 (19.35 GMT)
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Simon McDowell (Ireland), Mark Hermin (Ireland)
TMO: Sean Flannery (Ireland)

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