Leinster have named their squad for Monday’s Celtic League clash with Ulster at Donnybrook. Brian O’Driscoll returns to the panel and – alongside Gordon D’Arcy - is expected to be named in the final 22 on Friday morning.
Following Christian Cullen’s win last month, David Holwell has become the second Kiwi to win this award. Holwell who joined Leinster this season has become an important part of the province’s back-line and has impressed at out-half scoring 49 points, comprising of a try, 10 penalty goals and seven conversions and earned two Man of the Match performances last month against Llanelli and Glasgow.
Munster beat the Neath-Swansea Ospreys in a terrible conditions at Musgrave Park last night. The victory see’s both sides tied on points in the league but due to a superior points difference The Ospreys remain top.
Leinster fans will have been delighted that Gordon D’Arcy has returned for the province and appears to not have been set back at all by his absense with a groin injury. D’Arcy came on late in the game against Cardiff yesterday and almost immediately made a break to seal a 15 points to 6 victory for Leinster.
Ulster edged out a battling Edinburgh side to win by 36 points to 34 in an exciting encounter at Ravenhill. The win continues Ulster’s recent improving form and moves them to within 3 points of Connacht.
Despite beating some of the top teams in the league in recent weeks Connacht couldn’t manage to get anywhere against Glasgow tonight. Connacht lost out by 35 points to 0.
Ronan O’Gara will captain a Munster side that features four changes from the side that beat Castres last weekend. Irish Internationals Anthony Foley, Paul O’Connell and John Hayes have all been given a rest while Anthony Horgan is rested so that Paul Devlin can have his second start for Munster.
Gordon D’Arcy’s rehabilitation from an injury picked up during their Heineken Cup game against Bath in October seems to be almost completer with D’Arcy being named on a strong Leinster squad for this weekend’s trip to Cardiff to face the Blues.
Alan Gaffney has named a 26 man squad ahead of the naming of his team tomorrow for Saturday’s crucial Celtic League encounter with Neath-Swansea Ospreys at Musgrave Park. All of last weekends starting 15 are named in the squad but David Wallace and Mossie Lawlor have been left out of the 26 man squad.
With their current good form in both the Celtic League and the European Challenge Cup, Connacht will be looking for a win from their trip to Glasgow this Friday. A win could see Connacht move up as far as fourth place in the league.