Leinster coach Matt O’Connor has named his team for tomorrow’s PRO12 opener away to the Scarlets. The province are boosted by the timely return of several senior players for the trip to Llanelli. Jimmy Gopperth will make his senior debut at half back alongside Eoin Reddan while Gordon D’Arcy returns to the starting line up after missing the PRO12 and Amlin Challenge Cup victories in May. The Wexford man who makes his 222nd appearance will form a centre partnership with Fergus McFadden. Luke Fitzgerald – who will make his first appearance since March – forms a back three with Dave Kearney and the backline’s second debutant, St. Mary’s College captain Darragh Fanning. Up front, Shane Jennings leads the team and is one of four Ireland internationals in the pack, with two Leinster Academy prop graduates Jack McGrath and Martin Moore named in the front row, while Mike Ross and summer signing Mike McCarthy are named on the bench.
Leinster team:
15: Dave Kearney
14: Darragh Fanning
13: Fergus McFadden
12: Gordon DÂ’Arcy
11: Luke Fitzgerald
10: Jimmy Gopperth
9: Eoin Reddan
1: Jack McGrath
2: Sean Cronin
3: Martin Moore
4: Tom Denton
5: Devin Toner
6: Rhys Ruddock
7: Shane Jennings CAPTAIN
8: Jordi Murphy
REPLACEMENTS:
16: Aaron Dundon
17: Jack OÂ’Connell
18: Mike Ross
19: Mike McCarthy
20: Dominic Ryan
21: Isaac Boss
22: Noel Reid
23: Brendan Macken
