Rugby News

Leinster head coach Joe Schmidt has made four changes to his side for Saturday afternoon’s RaboDirect PRO12 final against Ospreys at the RDS.

All four changes from the side which obliterated poor unfortunate Ulster in the Heineken Cup final last weekend are in the pack.

Sean O’Brien is ruled out with a knee injury while Cian Healy is a fitness doubt with a dead leg so he drops to the replacement bench, with Jack McGrath on standby to replace him there.

That leaves a place in the team for Heinke van der Merwe, with Sean Cronin replacing Richardt Strauss at hooker, Devin Toner named in the second row and Shane Jennings returning at openside flanker.

Bionic Brad Thorn is included on the subs bench.

Ospreys have also named their team, with Ireland winger Tommy Bowe absent through injury.

Leinster (v Ospreys): Rob Kearney, Fergus McFadden, Brian O'Driscoll, Gordon D'Arcy, Isa Nacewa, Jonathan Sexton, Eoin Reddan; Heinke van der Merwe, Sean Cronin, Mike Ross, Leo Cullen (capt), Devin Toner, Kevin McLaughlin, Shane Jennings, Jamie Heaslip.

Replacements: Richardt Strauss, Cian Healy/Jack McGrath, Nathan White, Brad Thorn, Dominic Ryan, John Cooney, Ian Madigan, David Kearney

Ospreys (v Leinster): Richard Fussell, Hanno Dirksen, Andrew Bishop, Ashley Beck, Shane Williams, Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb; Paul James, Richard Hibbard, Adam Jones, Alun Wyn Jones (capt), Ian Evans, Ryan Jones, Justin Tipuric, Joe Bearman.

Replacements: Scott Baldwin, Ryan Bevington, Aaron Jarvis, James King, Tom Smith, Kahn Fotuali’i, Matthew Morgan, Tom Isaacs.

Kick off at the RDS is at 4pm on Saturday afternoon.