Leinster side named for Aironi clash

The Leinster team for Thursday night’s Magners League clash with Aironi has been named.

With a host of first team regulars on Six Nations duty with Ireland for Sunday’s encounter with France at the Aviva Stadium, coach Joe Schmidt has named an experimental line-up, captained by Rhys Ruddock (above), who will be partnered by Dominic Ryan and Stephen Keogh in the back row.

Ian Madigan makes his 11th appearance of the season and partners Paul O’Donohoe at half back with Eoin O’Malley, fresh from his Ireland Wolfhounds debut, lining up alongside debutant Brendan Macken at centre.

In the pack, Heinke van der Merwe and Richardt Strauss are named in the front row, with Kevin McLaughlin lining up at second row alongside fellow Ireland international Devin Toner.

A decision on the final make up of the replacements bench will be made closer to kick off.

Leinster’s clash with Aironi kicks off at the RDS on Thursday at 7.05pm.

LEINSTER: Isa Nacewa; Andrew Conway, Brendan Macken, Eoin O’Malley, David Kearney; Ian Madigan, Paul O’Donohoe; Heinke van der Merwe, Richardt Strauss, Clint Newland; Kevin McLaughlin, Devin Toner; Rhys Ruddock (CAPTAIN), Dominic Ryan, Stephen Keogh.

REPLACEMENTS: Jason Harris-Wright, Jack McGrath, Simon Shawe, Ed O’Donoghue, Paul Ryan/Shane Jennings, Isaac Boss, Ian McKinley, Niall Morris