RUGBY/European Cup: The Leinster team to take on Benetton Treviso in their opening Heineken European Cup match at Stadio Comunale di Monigo on Saturday is along expected lines. The only problem for coach Declan Kidney is the fitness of Eric Miller.
The Lions and Ireland flanker has a neck strain for which he is getting treatment and in an effort to afford him every opportunity to prove his fitness the Leinster team management could bring 23 players to Italy. Miller will take his place among the replacements if he proves his full rehabilitation; otherwise his place will go to Des Dillon.
There would have been several issues of debate in terms of the selection but Kidney has entrusted the task of winning in Treviso to his experienced players. Girvan Dempsey's form at full back has been good while Shane Horgan has been named on the right wing rather than centre.
Horgan has played a great deal of international rugby on the wing and Kidney obviously felt it would be appropriate to keep him there and maintain the Ireland midfield partnership of Brian O'Driscoll and Gordon D'Arcy that proved such a success in last season's Six Nations Championship - even though D'Arcy may still be a little match rusty following a groin strain.
Denis Hickie switches to the left wing to the exclusion of the promising Gary Brown, Leinster's top try scorer in the Celtic League, who is named among the replacements. New Zealander David Holwell has been handed the outhalf role ahead of Felipe Contepomi (on the bench) while Brian O'Meara has won his personal battle with Ireland's reserve scrumhalf Guy Easterby for the number nine jersey.
Up front the pack is laden with experience. Emmet Byrne is preferred to Ricky Nebbett, while Leo Cullen edges out Ben Gissing in the second row. Aidan McCullen has been in superb form and is named at blindside in a back row that includes Victor Costello and the talented openside Shane Jennings.
Munster are expected to confirm their team today for their game against Harlequins at Thomond Park on Saturday. The main injury concern for coach Alan Gaffney is Donncha O'Callaghan's damaged calf. The tear is close to the achilles tendon rather than the meat of the calf and has taken longer than anticipated to heal.
Trevor Hogan has done extremely well in O'Callaghan's absence this season and might make the starting XV, with O'Callaghan named on the bench provided he can prove his fitness. Denis Leamy's form means either Alan Quinlan or David Wallace won't make the match 22.
Ulster's back-row problems were further compounded ahead of their game against Cardiff at Ravenhill on Friday night with the news Matt Mustchin will be out for six to eight weeks with knee-ligament damage. Coach Mark McCall is already without Andy Ward (two weeks, damaged elbow) and Neil McMillan (rest of season).
Number eight Roger Wilson is battling a knee problem while his replacement for the last game, Gary Brown, is ineligible for the European Cup. The only two fit back-row players at present are Neil Best and Campbell Feather so Dungannon's Tim Barker could be asked to fill the gap at number eight.
Jonny Bell is nursing a damaged ankle and he too is rated doubtful.
Connacht are waiting on number eight John O'Sullivan (shoulder) and second row Pieter Myburgh (dead leg) ahead of their European Challenge Cup trip to Narbonne. The South African is considered the more unlikely to play. Better news for coach Michael Bradley is that Bernard Jackman, Darren Yapp and Matt Mostyn all played the last day following injury.
LEINSTER: G Dempsey; S Horgan, B O'Driscoll, G D'Arcy, D Hickie; D Holwell, B O'Meara; R Corrigan (capt), S Byrne, E Byrne, L Cullen, M O'Kelly, A McCullen, V Costello, S Jennings. Replacements: G Hickie, R Nebbett, B Gissing, E Miller/D Dillon, G Easterby, F Contepomi, G Brown.
