Keith Gleeson, Nathan Spooner, Adam Magro and Ben Willis will don the Leinster colours for the first time in two pre-season warm-up games against Connacht sides at Ericsson Park this evening. The senior sides from the two provinces will meet at 5.0 and that match will be followed by a second game between shadow XVs at 6.15.
The 26-year-old Gleeson, who was born in Ireland before moving to Australia at the age of seven and who holds an Irish passport, has been named at openside in the first match. He played against Ireland on their most recent tour of Australia.
Spooner will start at outhalf. The 26-year-old won a couple of caps for Australia and played against Ireland on their 1999 tour and has represented New South Wales and Queensland. He is one of two Australian players in the squad, the other is centre Magro. The former ACT Brumbie toured with the Wallabies but never won a test cap.
Willis, a 24-year-old former New Zealand Colts scrumhalf, holds an Irish passport through a grandfather. He will play in the second game, linking up with Andy Dunne at halfback.
Leinster will be without Lions duo Brian O'Driscoll and Malcolm O'Kelly, as well as Victor Costello and Eric Miller: the latter pair are injured. Paul Wallace was also not considered as he is still recovering from a broken leg and ankle ligament damage.
Coach Matt Williams will have an opportunity to view several promising young players including prop Niall Treston, hooker David Blaney, second rows Niall Breslin and Graham Quinn and openside flanker Shane Jennings.
The matches will serve as final preparation for the Celtic League which begins the weekend after next.
Meanwhile Ulster entertain English Premiership side Sale Sharks at Ravenhill tonight (7.30). Former Springbok international Robbie Brink will make his debut for Ulster in the backrow alongside fellow South African Russell Nelson and new team captain Andy Ward. Jeremy Davidson has overcome the strains of the Lions tour to Australia and has been named on the bench.
Ryan Constable returns to the centre, David Humphreys to outhalf and Brad Free to the number nine jersey. Up front Gary Longwell and Paddy Johns form an experienced second-row partnership. The only notable absentee is Lions wing Tyrone Howe who has a knee injury.
Leinster (squad): S Barretto, D Blaney, N Breslin, T Brennan, E Byrne, S Byrne, B Casey, R Corrigan, V Costello, P Coyle, L Cullen, G D'Arcy, G Dempsey, A Dunne, E Farrell, K Gleeson, D Hickie, G Hickie, S Horgan, S Jennings, S Keogh, A Magro, A McCullen, P McKenna, J McWeeney, E Miller, J Norton, D O'Brien, B O'Driscoll, M O'Kelly, B O'Meara, D Quinlan, N Spooner, N Treston, P Wallace, B Willis.
Ulster: B Cunningham; J Topping, R Constable, J Bell, S Coulter; D Humphreys, B Free; S Best, P Shields, C Boyd; G Longwell, P Johns; R Brink, R Nelson, A Ward (capt). Replacements: R Weir, J Fitzpatrick, J Davidson, T McWhirter, A Larkin, P Wallace, K Campbell.
The Leinster Schools side had to come back from a 12-6 deficit at half-time to defeat a very strong San Isidro Under-19 selection 16-12 in hot, humid conditions in Buenos Aires.
A try from prop John Anthony Lee, converted by David Connellan, midway through the second half saw Leinster take the lead for the first time in a bruising encounter. Replacement scrumhalf Daragh Geraghty added a late penalty to secure Leinster's first tour win.
Earlier Connellan had kicked two penalties in response to San Isidro's two first-half tries, one of which was converted.
