Hickie, Miller to start for Leinster in France

Leinster coach Matt Williams today named a strong starting XV for the Heineken Cup Pool 4 clash against Montferrand in France…

Leinster coach Matt Williams today named a strong starting XV for the Heineken Cup Pool 4 clash against Montferrand in France on Saturday.

Wing forward Eric Miller is selected despite nursing a slight groin strain and links up with fellow internationals Keith Gleeson and Victor Costello in the back row. Aidan McCullen drops to the bench.

Williams also welcomes back Denis Hickie. The international winger was sidelined for a mandatory three weeks as a result of the concussion he sustained against Australia.

Prop Emmett Byrne returns to the front row for the injured Paul Wallace who was advised to rest his troublesome ankle after hobbling off in Friday's friendly between Leinster and the Scottish Borders at Donnybrook.

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Malcolm O'Kelly has been receiving treatment this week after picking up a back injury in the Donnybrook friendly but is nevertheless selected to partner his international colleague Leo Cullen in the second row.

Outhalf Nathan Spooner, sidelined since the start of the season with a shoulder injury, has returned to club action with St. Mary's and is named among the substitutes.

Leinster, who top Pool 4 after two games, have yet to win in France but captain Reggie Corrigan is not overly concerned.

He said: "It's a monkey we would like to get off our backs but it hasn't really been bugging us that much."

Leinster team to play Montferrand at the Parc des Sports Marcel-Michelin. Kick-off: 2:00 (Irish Time)

G Dempsey; D Hickie, B O'Driscoll, S Horgan, G D'Arcy; C Warner, B O'Meara; R Corrigan (c), S Byrne, E Byrne, L Cullen, M O'Kelly; E Miller, K Gleeson, V Costello.

Replacements: P Coyle, G Hickie, A Kearney, A McCullen, B O'Riordan, N Spooner, D Quinlan.