Celtic League Previews Leinster v Glasgow Donnybrook (5.0)An ankle injury precludes Eric Miller's involvement but otherwise Leinster coach Michael Cheika has decided to shuffle his resources for today's Celtic League clash in the wake of the 22-20 defeat to the Ospreys in Swansea last weekend.
Gary Brown replaces Brendan Burke while Guy Easterby is preferred to Brian O'Meara at scrumhalf. The two players who stand down to the replacements didn't do a great deal wrong in Wales.
John Lyne comes into the front row, young Australian lock Adam Byrnes is promoted from water-carrying duties. Jamie Heaslip, who is at number eight, did well when introduced last weekend for the injured Miller.
The main consideration for the home side is not so much the personnel as rectifying the shockingly inadequate set-piece performances from the Ospreys match. There were 11 turnovers at the lineout alone: nine balls stolen and two more lost on a crooked-in call. If Leinster can't find the solution it won't matter who is playing, they're doomed to failure.
It is possible to discern the patterns the Irish province is trying to pursue. There will be teething problems. They need to perform the basics to a much higher standard but they also have a responsibility to maintain that sense of adventure they showed in snatches last weekend.
The right thing to do is the right thing irrespective of the position on the pitch or the time on the clock. The units within the team will have benefited from that last outing, particularly midfield, where Felipe Contepomi had a smashing match.
Glasgow Warriors have made five changes to their starting line-up. Scott Barrow is promoted from the bench to replace the injured Andy Henderson while scrumhalves Sam Pinder and Graeme Beveridge swap places.
Injuries to Kevin Tkachuk and captain Jon Petrie necessitate the recall of Euan Murray and Paul Dearlove, with Dan Parks taking over the captaincy. Tim Barker, once of Ulster and Dungannon, joins the secondrow to make his first Celtic League appearance for Glasgow. Graeme Morrison and John Barclay make up the other two bench changes from the squad that lost to the Newport Gwent Dragons.
Games between these side have traditionally been open. Leinster are good enough. They just have to prove it.
LEINSTER: G Dempsey; G Brown, K Lewis, F Contepomi (capt), R Kearney; C Warner, G Easterby; J Lyne, B Jackman, W Green; B Gissing, A Byrnes; C Potts, K Gleeson, J Heaslip. Replacements: E Byrne, D Blaney, S Crawford, N Ronan, B O'Meara, E Hickey, B Burke.
GLASGOW WARRIORS: C Shaw; R Lamont, A Craig, S Barrow, M Roberts; D Parks (capt), S Pinder; E Murray, S Lawson, L Harrison; T Barker, C Hamilton; S Swindall, A Wilson, P Dearlove. Replacements: F Thomson, S Corsar, D Turner, J Barclay, G Beveridge, C Howarth, G Morrison.
Referee: P Fear (Wales).
Head to Head - September 2002 (CL) at Hughenden: Glasgow Warriors 25 Leinster 21; October 2003 (CL) at Hughenden: Glasgow Warriors 10: Leinster 31; April 2004 (CL) at Donnybrook: Leinster 31 Glasgow Warriors 30; November 2004 (CL) at Donnybrook: Leinster 22 Glasgow Warriors 16; April 2005 (CL) at Hughenden: Glasgow Warriors 23 Leinster 30; April 2005 (CC quarter-final) at Lansdowne Road: Leinster 33 Glasgow Warriors 24.
Verdict: Leinster to win.
