Glasgow v Leinster: Teams

Van der Merwe: Will make Leinster debut

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• Leinster sign Nottingham prop
• Lineen praises on Gray

New signings Heinke van der Merwe and Isaac Boss have both been named in Leinster's starting line-up for their Magners League opener against Glasgow on Friday.

Skipper Sean O'Brien leads a Leinster side which also includes summer signing Ed O'Donoghue in the second row for the clash at Firhill.

Jamie Heaslip forms a back-row partnership with O'Brien and Dominic Ryan, with Nathan Hines joining O'Donoghue at lock.

Shane Horgan partners Luke Fitzgerald and Niall Morris in an exciting back three while new signing Ben Prescott is named amongst the replacements alongside Ireland hooker John Fogarty.

Speaking ahead of the contest, Hines said he expects Glasgow to be strong test for last season's runners-up.

He said: "They have some good players. Max Evans is threatening out wide. (Bernardo) Stortoni is solid under the high ball at full-back and Richie Vernon, the ex-Sevens player who plays in the back-row, is quick and runs good lines.

Preparation

"The two pre-season games (that we had) were good preparation for the start of the League proper and obviously they count, but you're not playing for points in pre-season.

"Historically we haven't done very well in Glasgow so it's an opportunity for everyone to get a scalp early on."

Meanwhile, Warriors head coach Sean Lineen is looking forward to the opening contest of the campaign after intensive pre-season at their new Scotstoun Stadium training centre.

"It's the most satisfying pre-season I've had as a head coach. We're training at Scotstoun now so we've been able to do a lot more coaching," Lineen said.

However, Lineen knows that the intensity will be stepped up a notch when league points are up for grabs on Friday.

He added: "Our game against Sale at Firhill was a good stepping stone but we know it's going to be a massive physical test against Leinster.

"It's always a good battle with Leinster. They've got a lot of youngsters as well but they've also got plenty experience. The back-row, which I rate very highly, is their weapon."

Glasgow:15 Bernardo Stortoni (capt), 14 DTH van der Merwe, 13 Max Evans, 12 Graeme Morrison, 11 Federico Aramburu, 10 Ruaridh Jackson, 9 Henry Pyrgos, 8 Richie Vernon, 7 Chris Fusaro, 6 Ryan Wilson, 5 Richie Gray, 4 Tom Ryder, 3 Moray Low, 2 Fergus Thomson, 1 Jon Welsh.
Replacements: 16 Pat MacArthur, 17 Ed Kalman, 18 Ryan Grant, 19 Aly Muldowney, 20 Rob Harley, 21 Duncan Weir, 22 Hefin O'Hare, 23 Peter Murchie.

Leinster:15 Luke Fitzgerald, 14 Shane Horgan, 13 Eoin O'Malley, 12 Fergus McFadden, 11 Niall Morris, 10 Isa Nacewa, 9 Isaac Boss, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Sean O'Brien (capt), 6 Dominic Ryan, 5 Ed O'Donoghue, 4 Nathan Hines, 3 Simon Shawe, 2 Richardt Strauss, 1 Heinke van der Merwe.
Replacements:16 John Fogarty 17 Jack McGrath 18 Ben Prescott 19 Mariano Galarza 20 Stephen Keogh 21 Paul O'Donohoe 22 Ian Madigan 23 Eamonn Sheridan.