Team news: Busy times for Leinster. Hopeful of word from An Bord Pleanála next Monday on final approval for their proposed redevelopment of Donnybrook, and also confirmation of their projected move to the RDS for Heineken European Cup pool games next week, the province's management team are also actively trying to sign two players from abroad prior to the September 29th ERC deadline.
The Leinster Branch have for the best part of two weeks been anticipating a verdict on residents' objections to their planned redevelopment of Donnybrook from An Bord Pleanála.
Initial planning permission had been granted to Leinster by the Dublin Corporation planning authorities pending appeals to the planning board, though it is believed most of the objections from residents concern the estimated 77 new apartments to be built at the Bective end of the ground and behind the Old Wesley pavilion, rather than the proposals for an increased 14,000 capacity stadium.
In the shorter term, Leinster chief executive Mick Dawson admitted the plans to move the province's home European Cup pool games to the main showjumping arena in the RDS are "looking positive".
The RDS would give Leinster an estimated capacity of 14,000 for their games against Bath, Bourgoin and Glasgow, and as a means of familiarising themselves and their supporters with the new venue they would play Cardiff there in the Celtic League on October 15th, a week before their ERC opener against Bath.
Leinster still have two slots to fill in their squad prior to the ERC deadline and have been linked with the 23-year-old Castleford rugby league player John Hepworth and the New South Wales and Australian A back-five forward Tamati Horua. Leinster have room for a second "overseas" player in addition to Felipe Contepomi while Hepworth, as an EC-passport holder, would not be considered overseas.
Similar complications stand in the way of obtaining both players. Asked about Hepworth, who would be seen as a utility back and has been monitored by coach Michael Cheika, team manager Paul McNaughton said: "Yes, there is an interest there but much will depend on his release from Castleford."
As Castleford are currently clear in second place of the National League One, they look certain to be involved in promotion play-offs, which would carry on into October.
Horua's club side, Eastern Suburbs, are still involved in the Australian Toohey's Cup (the final of which also takes place in October). McNaughton commented: "Yes, discussions have taken place but much will depend on his availability for the European Cup and we are also pursuing other possible options."
Cheika is expected to name a squad today for Friday's Celtic League match at home to the Dragons, who lost 15-9 to the Ospreys last night, and pending release from the Irish management could be able to name two of their Lions quintet, Shane Horgan and Denis Hickie, given they are idle the following week.
Contepomi sustained a dead leg in the win over Glasgow but is expected to recover, while Reggie Corrigan and Eric Miller - both sidelined last week - might come back into contention.
Munster have been able to name two of their Lions contingent, Donncha O'Callaghan and Ronan O'Gara, in a 24-strong squad for their televised game against Glasgow Warriors in Hughenden on Saturday, whereas Paul O'Connell and John Hayes have not been released.
However, the temptation to immediately instal the pair despite little contact training may be resisted by Declan Kidney. He will recall last year Munster were permitted to recall Frankie Sheahan, John Hayes and David Wallace from a 10-week pre-season but lost 17-15 to a more cohesive Leinster side - coached by himself.
A fortnight later, Kidney was permitted to play Shane Byrne, Shane Horgan, Brian O'Driscoll, Reggie Corrigan and Malcolm O'Kelly and pitched them into a theoretically much stronger starting line-up against the Dragons. Leinster, after a four-game unbeaten start to the campaign, promptly lost 34-13.
Also included in the squad is Tony Buckley, who was due to make his first start for Munster in the pre-season game against Leicester Tigers but was ruled out on the morning of the game with a viral infection.
Buckley returned to action last weekend with his club, Shannon.
Three scrumhalves have been named owing to a recurrence of Peter Stringer's slight ankle problem, while John O'Sullivan's calf strain, sustained prior to the Ospreys game, rules him out.
Munster have a captain's run scheduled for Friday (3pm), after which the starting line-up will be announced. Meanwhile Ulster coach Mark McCall has named an unchanged starting XV ahead of Friday's first home League game of the season, against early pacesetters Edinburgh. Kieran Campbell and Matt McCullough have recovered from small knocks sustained against Cardiff.
There's one change on the replacements' bench, where Reece Spee comes in as cover at scrumhalf ahead of youngster Paul Marshall, while Adam Larkin, who came in as a late replacement for Jonny Bell last weekend, is named again.
Connacht's Ray Hogan has been ruled out of their match away to Llanelli on Saturday but is expected to be back for the Borders game the following week.
ULSTER (v Edinburgh): P Wallace; T Bowe, K Maggs, P Steinmetz; A Trimble; D Humphreys, K Campbell; J Fitzpatrick, P Shields, S Best (capt), J Harrison, M McCullough, N Best, N McMillan, R Wilson. Replacements: R Best, B Young, R Frost, C Feather, R Spee, A Larkin, J Topping.
MUNSTER: (forwards) F Pucciariello, M Horan, F Roche, T Buckley, F Sheahan, J Flannery, M O'Driscoll, T Hogan, D O'Callaghan, D Leamy, A Quinlan, D Wallace, A Foley; (backs) P Stringer, M Prendergast, F Murphy, P Burke, R O'Gara, A Horgan, R Henderson, T Halstead, B Murphy, J Kelly, S Payne.
