Big three return for Leinster
Brian O’Driscoll, Rob Kearney and Luke Fitzgerald have all been named in Leinster’s starting XV for tomorrow night’s RaboDirect PRO 12 meeting with Edinburgh at Murrayfield (7.35pm).
All three players have been long term absentees for Joe Schmidt but they make a timely return to the squad as Leinster look to kick-start their season in 2013.
O’Driscoll hasn’t featured since injuring his ankle in October, Kearney has yet to play eighty minutes of rugby this season after a recurrence of his back problem while Luke Fitzgerald has been out of action all season as he recovered from a neck injury.
Kearney – who will make his 122nd appearance for the province - is named in a pacy-looking back three alongside Fitzgerald and Fionn Carr.
O’Driscoll will link up with his familiar midfield partner Gordon D’Arcy in the centres.
Eoin Reddan, who is set to make his 75th Leinster appearance, starts ahead of Isaac Boss at scrum-half with Jonathan Sexton completing the backline.
Leo Cullen leads an all Ireland qualified starting XV which includes the likes of Cian Healy, Jamie Heaslip and Sean O’Brien in the pack.
Shane Jennings has recovered from illness to take his place on the replacements bench alongside fellow Ireland internationals Michael Bent and Isaac Boss.
Leinster (v. Edinburgh): R Kearney; F Carr, B O’Driscoll, G D’Arcy, L Fitzgerald; J Sexton, E Reddan; C Healy, S Cronin, M Ross; L Cullen capt, D Toner; K McLaughlin, S O’Brien, J Heaslip.
Replacements: A Dundon, H van der Merwe, M Bent, T Denton, S Jennings, I Boss, I Madigan, A Conway.
