Leinster v Dragons:AN INAUSPICIOUS two point league defeat last week will want to be rectified immediately as Leinster hand three players home debuts this evening. A slow start from Leinster has hurt them in previous years.
Mike Ross at tight head prop, Shaun Berne at inside centre and Rob’s talented younger brother David Kearney on the wing will feel the buzz of the RDS as Dragons arrive, doubtlessly highly motivated for a crack at the European champions in their own back yard.
Leinster have won their last nine games in Ballsbridge and in their most recent meeting with Dragons they recorded a successful 29-13 win, so there is something of home pride coming into the clash as well as the need to start point building.
Dragons have won only once (against Glasgow) away from Rodney Parade since September 2008, making their on the road record a worrying streak.
Experience at full back with Isa Nacewa and Shane Horgan on the opposite wing to Kearney (playing in his second Leinster match) is another effort by coach Michael Cheika to mix the team with seasoned players and those pushing through. Fergus McFadden at outside centre is another case in point.
In the Leinster pack the evolving Devin Toner partners captain Leo Cullen in the second row with the dynamic Sean O’Brien coming into the team to start at number eight along with open side, Shane Jennings and Kevin McLaughlin.
Interestingly, Cheika has placed Nathan Hines along with Irish internationals Gordon D’Arcy and scrum-half, Eoin Reddan on the Leinster bench. Expect to see them appear at some stage.
The top-of-the-table Dragons have made several changes from last week and have been forced to travel without their injured captain and New Zealand international Tom Willis.
He hobbled off with a calf injury last week in their game against Ulster. In the pack Robert Sidoli comes in for Adam Jones at lock, while the talented Jason Tovey must settle for a place on the bench.
Top of the table on points difference after one match is probably misleading with Dragons’ second from the bottom last year more indicative of their abilities.
Still momentum counts for something and while they travel to Dublin in hope, Leinster still need to ramp up their game from last week to secure their first win of the season.
LEINSTER: I Nacewa; S Horgan, F McFadden, S Berne, D Kearney; J Sexton, C Keane; C Healy, J Fogarty, M Ross, L Cullen (c), D Toner, K McLaughlin, S Jennings, S O’Brien. Replacements: J Harris-Wright, S Wright, N Hines, S Keogh, E Reddan, G D’Arcy, S Keogh.
DRAGONS: A Thomas; A Brew, T Riley, A Smith, R Fussell; J Arlidge, W Evans; A McKenzie, S Jones, N Hall, R Sidoli, L Charteris (c), D Lydiate, G Thomas, G Webb. Replacements: D Goodfield, H Gustafson, G Robinson, A Jones, J Harris, J Tovey, A Walker.
Referee: G Knox (SRU).
Previous meetings: Dragons 18 Leinster 9 (2009); Leinster 29 Dragons 13 (2008); Dragons 31 Leinster 26 (2008)
Verdict: Home win
