Teams named for Wasps clash

Isn’t it great to see “L Fitzgerald” and “S O’Brien” on any team sheet?

Interestingly, Luke is named at 15, as Isa Nacewa keeps his place on the left wing. Perhaps this is an indication of the way in which Joe Schmidt plans to set up his back three in the future? They provide the only real experience in a back-line that otherwise has fewer than twenty first team appearances between them, but gives an opportunity for Ian Madigan to convert his undoubted talent into first team form at 10.

In the pack, a debut for Hank the Tank (van der Merwe), and an interesting selection of Richardt (Mr T) Strauss are the main points of note, apart that is, from the return of Carlow’s favourite first team member, Sean O’Brien as captain (sorry Bernard, your time is up, but thanks!).

The Leinster bench contains – among ten (!) others – new Argentinean second/back row Marian Galarza, who has been variously described as 6’3” (Babbling Brook) and 6’8” (The Irish Times). That’s about the difference between Sean Wright Philips and Emanuel Adebayor.

The Wasps bench has gone one better than Leinster’s, by naming an incredible 12 players as substitutes, containing new signing Riki Flutey alongside old timers Simon Shaw and Mark van Gisbergen. The other pensioners on the books – Tim Vickery and Serge Betsen – are named in an otherwise largely-inexperienced starting lineup that contains – much to the delight of Shay Given – one “J Hart” at number 8, and – much to the disappointment of anyone who likes  a good laugh, Andy Poowell.

See you all in the ‘Brook tomorrow.

Leinster: 15 L Fitzgerald; 14 D Kearney, 13 E O’Malley, 12 E Sheridan, 11 I Nacewa; 10 I Madigan, 9 P O’Donohoe; 1 H van der Merwe, 2 R Strauss, 3 M Ross; 4 T Hogan, 5 D Toner; 6 E Sheriff, 7 P Ryan, 8 S O’Brien. Replacements: J Harris-Wright, J McGrath, S Wright, M Galarza, D Ryan, I Boss, I McKinley, F McFadden, B Marshall, M Keating, N Morris

Wasps: 15 J Wallace, 14 R Haughton, 13 B Jacobs, 12 D Waldouck, 11 T Varndell, 10 D Walder, 9 N Berry, 1 Z Taulafo, 2 T Lindsay, 3 P Vickery, 4 M Veale, 5 R Birkett, 6 W Matthews, 7 S Betsen, 8 J Hart. Replacements: R Webber, T Payne, B Broster, J Cannon, T Rees, J Simpson, R Flutey, C Wade, S Shaw, S Jones, E Daly, M Van Gisbergen.