Leinster are unchanged for tomorrow night's Guinness Interprovincial clash with Munster at Donnybrook - not surprising given their comprehensive 53-8 win over Connacht at the weekend. Another boost for Leinster is the presence of new backs coach, Australian Matt Williams.
The 39-year-old coached the New South Wales Waratahs for the past three seasons before stepping down during the summer. Before that he coached the Eastwood club in Sydney and was assistant coach at NSW before taking over the reins. His contract with Leinster extends to January 31st, 2000, when he is expected to return to Australia.
Williams has an Irish passport - his mother was from Glendalough - but it is his friendship with Leinster coach Mike Ruddock, struck during a season which the Australian enjoyed with Swansea (1984-85), which persuaded him to join the Leinster ranks. Williams admitted: "I have had several offers but I know Mike and know that I can work with him.
"The important thing for me was that my family (he has three young children) were able to come and join me. I have an Irish background and I thought it would be good to spend a few months here." Williams arrived in Ireland on Monday and has already taken two sessions with the backs. "There is certainly plenty of talent and a desire to improve which is a great thing for a coach."
Ruddock conceded: "We have needed a specialist backs coach for some time so this is a significant bonus for us. Hopefully his link with Ireland and Leinster will continue after his contract finishes."
The Leinster coach admitted that he was pleased to be able to announce an unchanged team, particularly after an impressive victory at the weekend. However, he said Munster would provide considerably stronger opposition and that his side would need to step up to a higher level if they were going to improve.
Once again Trevor Brennan, Brian O'Driscoll and Girvan Dempsey were unavailable and it seems likely that Ireland under-21 captain Leo Cullen will not be fit enough to make the replacements.
They have yet to be decided but the indications are that Clontarf's Craig Brownlie could feature on the bench at the expense of Colin McEntee.
There are three changes to the Ulster team for tomorrow night's game against Connacht at Ravenhill. Irish captain Dion O'Cuinneagain has been advised to rest a troublesome shoulder injury and his place goes to fellow international Eric Miller. Paddy Johns is recalled to the second row with Gary Longwell dropping to the bench.
Behind the scrum Riaz Fredericks is out with a broken thumb and so Jan Cunningham joins Jonathan Bell in the centre. Sheldon Coulter, Stephen McKinty, Richie Weir and Malone prop Lauren Stewart have been introduced into the replacements.
Connacht reshuffle their back line: Pat Duignan moves to the right wing, Matt Mostyn switches to the centre and Nigel Carolan starts on the left. Mervyn Murphy is relegated to the bench to accommodate the changes. Captain Eric Elwood will once again play through the pain barrier. There are no changes to the pack.
Barnhall received a bye into the semi-finals of the Old Belvedere Floodlit Cup after Blackrock College's late withdrawal from the competition. Both matches will take place at Anglesea Road next Tuesday and Wednesday at 7.30 p.m.
Leinster: G D'Arcy; J McWeeney, P McKenna, S Horgan, D Hickie; B Everitt, D Hegarty; R Corrigan, S Byrne, A McKeen; M O'Kelly, R Casey; D O'Brien, V Costello, L Toland (capt). Replacements to be announced.
Ulster: S Mason; J Topping, J Cunningham, J Bell, S Bromley; D Humphreys (capt), S Bell; J Fitzpatrick, A Clarke, S Best; P Johns, M Blair; E Miller, T McWhirter, A Ward: Replacements: S Coulter, N Malone, M Edwards, S McKinty, G Longwell, R Weir, L Stewart.
Connacht: S Allnutt; P Duignan, M Mostyn, M Deane, N Carolan; E Elwood (capt), S McIvor; J Maher, S McDonald, M Cahill; G Webster, M McConnell; C Rigney, M Steffert, E Brennan. Replacements: M Murphy, O Cobbe, D Mescal, J Screene, J McVeigh, B Jackman, B Gavin.
