Irish contingent return for Leinster

Irish internationals Gordon D’Arcy, Jonathan Sexton, Eoin Reddan, Devin Toner and Sean O’Brien have been named in the Leinster side to face the Scarlets in the Magners League this weekend.

The side shows seven changes from the fifteen that suffered a narrow defeat to the Ospreys last Sunday. D’Arcy comes in instead of Andrew Conway and will partner Eoin O’Malley at centre with Fergus McFadden switching to the wing in a back three which again includes Shane Horgan and Isa Nacewa.

Sexton and Reddan will start at half back in place of Ian Madigan and Isaac Boss, while in the pack, Richardt Strauss and Mike Ross come in for Jason Harris-Wright and Clint Newland, Devin Toner replaces Ed O’Donoghue in the second row and Rhys Ruddock and Sean O’Brien have been included in the back row at the expense of Shane Jennings and Stephen Keogh.

Leinster’s clash with the Scarlets kicks off at Parc y Scarlets on Friday at 7.05pm.

Leinster: Isa Nacewa; Shane Horgan, Eoin O’Malley, Gordon D’Arcy, Fergus McFadden; Jonathan Sexton, Eoin Reddan; Heinke van der Merwe, Richardt Strauss, Mike Ross; Leo Cullen (Captain), Devin Toner; Rhys Ruddock, Dominic Ryan, Sean O’Brien.

Replacements: Tom Sexton, Jack McGrath, Clint Newland, Nathan Hines, Shane Jennings, Paul O’Donohoe, Shaun Berne, Dave Kearney.