Celtic League news: The Celtic League, from an Irish perspective, couldn't have conjured a more high octane opening than to watch Leinster square off against Munster at Donnybrook tomorrow night (7.35). It doesn't matter who's missing - eight Leinster and six Munster players are on duty with Ireland in Murrayfield this weekend - as the contest will still be fiercely competitive
The World Cup does intrude but it's hardly a negative as evidenced by pre-season ticket sales. The next generation of internationals will be on view and for those who prefer to see the action pitch-side, it will help to while away Friday nights and Saturday afternoons.
Munster delayed naming their side, offering instead a 26-man squad that included Frankie Sheahan, Donncha O'Callaghan, Alan Quinlan and Anthony Foley. There is some concern about the fitness of Jason Holland so Killian Keane has been added to the travelling party as cover.
Leinster coach Gary Ella showed no such reluctance as he prepares for a tête-à-tête with his good friend and a man who used to coach him, Munster's Alan Gaffney. His decision to play Christian Warner at full back and Matt Leek at outhalf was based on what was best for team patterns.
Brendan Burke's excellent form on last week's pre-season tour to Coventry and Gloucester has won him a starting role on the left wing. "Brendan certainly impressed the selectors and myself. I thought he was very sharp around the paddock. He's also got quite a large left boot, which we'll find very useful in the games," says Ella.
The promising Barnhall youngster finds himself in a three-quarter line with plenty of pace and physique. It'll be interesting to note how the promising Kieran Lewis copes with the direct style of Mike Mullins.
John Lyne will start as loosehead prop, the former Ireland under-21 international being another burgeoning prospect. Emmet Byrne has had 60 minutes in his last two outings after a long-term injury setback and according to the management is looking sharp in all facets of play.
Leo Cullen, fresh from an excellent performance at Thomond Park against Italy, Aidan McCullen and Keith Gleeson, who captains the team, provide the experience in the back five.
Ulster give a debut to former Wallaby prop Rod Moore for their trip to the Gnoll where they take on the Neath-Swansea Ospreys. The 31-year-old is on a short-term contract while Robbie Kempson plays in the World Cup with South Africa.
Coach Alan Solomons has made a number of changes from the side that was defeated by London Irish last weekend with Scott Young, Jonathan Bell, Neil Doak, Moore and Gary Longwell coming into the side. Young was preferred to his Ballymena club mate Andrew Maxwell, although the latter stands by to replace Tyrone Howe if he is called up for Irish duty. Doak and Bell, both with World Cup ambitions, have also been named in the starting line-up. Bell, though, will have to prove his fitness as he is dogged by a long-term Achilles injury.
Shane Stewart will deputise in Bell's absence. Doak will feature in only his second match since shoulder surgery, having come off the bench against London Irish last weekend. Longwell returns from international duty and faces an anxious weekend to see if he is Australia bound.
Ironically, Frankie Sheahan's return to competitive rugby means that Ulster's Paul Shields is most likely to miss out on the World Cup. Solomons was assured by Irish coach Eddie O'Sullivan that his preference for Matt Sexton to play for Ulster tomorrow night won't affect Shields's chances. Ulster also include summer captures Rowan Frost and Ronan McCormack.
Connacht will include five players making their competitive debut under new coach Michael Bradley for their Celtic League clash with Edinburgh at the Sportsground on Saturday (4.0). St Mary's College and former Ireland under-21 international Conor McPhillips is named on the right wing while Warren O'Kelly and Adrian Clarke join fellow Clontarf man Bernard Jackman in the front row.
Australian under-21 international Andrew Farley is named alongside Damien Browne in the second row while another Irish qualified overseas player, Matt Lacey, lines out at number eight. The Peter Pan of Irish rugby, Eric Elwood, lines out for his 16th consecutive season with Connacht.
Bradley was forced to select without long-term injury victim Peter Bracken, who had cruciate surgery back in January, as well as Mike Walls, Matt Mostyn, Justin Meagher and John Muldoon, who are sidelined with one ailment or another.
The Sportsground has been completely revamped recently and one huge plus for those who attend on Saturday will be that the Ireland-Scotland rugby international from Murrayfield and the Ireland-Russia soccer match from Lansdowne Road can be viewed on the 20 or so television screens. It removes any excuses for those who want to see the internationals not to head for the Galway venue.
l The Celtic League yesterday officially unveiled Canned Draught Guinness as the official beer to Celtic rugby. The brewery will also sponsor an Irish player of the month and player of the tournament.
LEINSTER: C Warner; G D'Arcy, K Lewis, D Quinlan, B Burke; M Leek, B O'Meara; J Lyne, G Hickie, E Byrne, L Cullen, B Gissing; A McCullen, D Dillon, K Gleeson (capt).
Replacements: N Treston, D Blaney, A Kearney, S Jennings, B O'Riordan, G Brown, J McWeeney.
ULSTER: B Cunningham; S Young, R Constable, J Bell, A Maxwell; P Wallace, N Doak; R McCormack, M Sexton, R Moore, R Frost, G Longwell, A Ward (capt), R Wilson, N Best.
Replacements: P Shields, B Young, M Mustchin, N McMillan, K Campbell, A Larkin, S Mallon.
CONNACHT: M McHugh; C McPhillips, D Yapp, T Allnutt (capt), W Munn; E Elwood, C Keane; W O'Kelly, B Jackman, A Clarke. D Browne, A Farley. M Swift, M Lacey, J O'Sullivan.
Replacements: J Fogarty, D McFarland, M McCarthy, M Carroll, C O'Loughlin, D Hewitt, T Robinson.
MUNSTER (from): J Blaney, F Sheahan, S Kerr, M Cahill, J Danaher, F Roche, D O'Callaghan, E Halvey, T Hogan, A Quinlan, A Foley, J Williams (capt), D Leamy, E Reddan, F Murphy, D Urlich, K Keane, J Holland, J Jones Hughes, M Mullins, R Henderson, S Payne, M Lawlor, C McMahon, J Staunton, M McPhail, R Lane.
