Despite 'training well' this week there is no sign of Luke Fitzgerald in a Leinster team that shows seven changes from the side that beat Zebre for tomorrow night's RaboDirect Pro12 game against the Newport Gwent Dragons at the RDS (7.45).
The Leinster and Ireland wing is recovering from an abdominal/adductor strain. It was hoped that eh would be available for this match. There was better news for the province as scrumhalf Eoin Reddan who has shaken off his calf issue and will partner Ian Madigan at halfback.
Fergus McFadden, Jack McGrath, Sean Cronin and Martin Moore, all of whom enjoyed game time from the bench, during Ireland's victory over Wales are named in the starting line-up for the Dragons match. Brendan Macken and Noel Reid maintain their midfield partnership from last Sunday's win over Zebre in Italy.
Leo Cullen will captain the team and he is partnered once again in the secondrow by Mike McCarthy. Jordi Murphy is named at number eight, flanked by Rhys Ruddock, who comes in for Kevin McLaughlin, and Shane Jennings. Promising young tighthead prop Tadhg Furlong is named among the replacements.
Leinster: Z Kirchner; F McFadden, B Macken, N Reid, D Fanning; I Madigan, E Reddan; J McGrath, S Cronin, M Moore; L Cullen (capt), M McCarthy; R Ruddock, S Jennings, J Murphy. Replacements: A Dundon, M Bent, T Furlong, T Denton, D Ryan, I Boss, J Gopperth, D Hudson.
Dragons: H Amos; M Pewtner, P Leach, A Smith, W Harries; J Tovey, R Rees; O Evans, T. Rhys Thomas, N Buck; C Hill, R Sidoli (capt), L Evans, N Cudd, N Talei. Replacements: S Parry, A Coundley, F Chaparro, M Screech, J Groves, W Evans, S Jones, R Wardle.
