Leinster v Blues: Teams
Leinster have made wholesale changes to their line-up for the visit of Cardiff Blues on Friday.
Last Updated: 01/12/11 1:11pm
Leinster have made wholesale changes to their line-up for the visit of Cardiff Blues on Friday.
Following the 30-20 victory over Treviso, Leo Cullen returns to skipper the side - with Steven Sykes joining him in the second row.
Sean O'Brien is preferred at No.8 to the benched Leo Auva'a, while Richardt Strauss and Nathan White come into the front row.
Isa Nacewa, David Kearney, Fergus McFadden and Isaac Boss come into the back division, with the Ireland international contingent of Jonathan Sexton, Eoin Reddan, Sean Cronin, Rob Kearney and Mike Ross named on a strong-looking bench.
The Blues will make the trip to Dublin missing a number of their star players due to the friendly between Wales and Australia on Saturday.
Leigh Halfpenny, Jamie Roberts, Alex Cuthbert, Lloyd Williams, Gethin Jenkins, Scott Andrews, Bradley Davies and Sam Warburton are all involved in that match - forcing the Blues to shuffle their squad.
Andries Pretorius, Deiniol Jones, Martyn Williams, Gavin Henson and Kristian Dacey are also missing through injury.
And Blues forwards coach Justin Burnell said: "It's a massive game for us and we can't use the excuse that our best players are off on international duty.
"We still have a massive responsibility to our supporters, sponsors, to the league and also to ourselves."
Leinster: 15 Isa Nacewa, 14 David Kearney, 13 Eoin O'Malley, 12 Fergus McFadden, 11 Fionn Carr, 10 Ian Madigan, 9 Isaac Boss, 1 Cian Healy, 2 Richardt Strauss, 3 Nathan White, 4 Leo Cullen, 5 Steven Sykes, 6 Rhys Ruddock, 7 Shane Jennings, 8 Sean O'Brien.
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Heinke van der Merwe, 18 Mike Ross, 19 Damian Browne, 20 Leo Auva'a, 21 Eoin Reddan, 22 Jonathan Sexton, 23 Rob Kearney
Cardiff Blues: 15 Chris Czekaj 14 Richard Mustoe 13 Casey Laulala 12 Gavin Evans 11 Tom James 10 Ceri Sweeney 9 Richie Rees, 8 Xavier Rush 7 Josh Navidi 6 Maama Molitika 5 Paul Tito (C) 4 Cory Hill 3 Taufaao Filise 2 Ryan Tyrrell 1 John Yapp.
Replacements: 16 Marc Breeze 17 Nathan Trevett 18 Sam Hobbs 19 Macauley Cook 20 Michael Paterson 21 Lewis Jones 22 Gareth Davies 23 Dafydd Hewitt
