Former Western Province lock Quinn Roux will make his home debut for Leinster in Saturday's PRO12 clash with the Dragons in Dublin.
Roux partners skipper Leo Cullen in the second-row while another home debut is handed to Leinster Academy flanker Ben Marshall who made his first appearance for the province away to Ulster in December 2010.
Marshall comes into the back-row alongside Shane Jennings and number eight Leo Auva'a.
Ireland hooker Sean Cronin is included in the front-row alongside Jamie Hagan and Jack McGrath.
In the absence of the injured Isaac Boss, John Cooney will link up with Ian Madigan at half back with the rest of the largely fledgling back-line that started last weekend's game in Llanelli - aside from the experienced Isa Nacewa who will make his 104th appearance - set to continue.
Devin Toner is named on the replacements bench alongside prop Heinke van der Merwe.
Meanwhile, Dragons back row Jevon Groves is set to lead the men of Gwent for the first time.
Although this is his first outing as Dragons captain, he is no stranger to the position having captained the Wales Sevens team to the plate semi-finals during the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
Fellow back row and regional captain Lewis Evans makes his return from injury from the bench whilst prop Tim Ryan will be looking to start his competitive career at the Dragons as a replacement.
With an unchanged back-line from the 37-6 victory over the Zebre last week, head coach Darren Edwards has rung the changes in the forwards with Groves, Ian Nimmo and Toby Faletau the only survivors from last weekend's starting line-up.
Form: Leinster have now slipped to back to back defeats in the RaboDirect PRO12 - they have not lost three in a row in the competition since October 2008. The only visiting team to have beaten the Leinstermen at the RDS in any competition in the last three years , other than Ospreys, was Glasgow in September 2011. Newport Gwent Dragons top the RaboDirect PRO12 table after round one, courtesy of their bonus point win over newcomers, Zebre. The Welshmen have three times before led the league after one week (2005, 2007 and 2008) and on all three occasions have lost in round two and surrendered top spot. The Men from Gwent have won just one of their last dozen encounters with Irish provinces: 22-9 at home to Ulster on 30 September 2011. Dragons solo victory in Ireland since2004 came at Ulster in September 2008. Leinster have taken the last four clashes with Newport Gwent Dragons, whilst Dragons have never overturned the Leinstermen on their own soil!
The teams:
Leinster: 15 Isa Nacewa, 14 Andrew Conway, 13 Brendan Macken, 12 Noel Reid, 11 Fionn Carr, 10 Ian Madigan, 9 John Cooney, 8 Leo Auva'a, 7 Shane Jennings, 6 Ben Marshall, 5 Quinn Roux, 4 Leo Cullen (c), 3 Jamie Hagan, 2 Sean Cronin, 1 Jack McGrath.
Replacements: 16 Tom Sexton, 17 Heinke van der Merwe, 18 Martin Moore, 19 Devin Toner, 20 Jordi Murphy, 21 Luke McGrath, 22 Colm O'Shea, 23 Darren Hudson.
Dragons: 15 Dan Evans, 14 Will Harries, 13 Pat Leach, 12 Andy Tuilagi, 11 Tom Prydie, 10 Steffan Jones, 9 Jonathan Evans, 8 Toby Faletau, 7 Jevon Groves (c), 6 Hywel Stoddart, 5 Adam Jones, 4 Ian Nimmo, 3 Nathan Buck, 2 Sam Parry, 1 Nathan Williams.
Replacements: 16 Hugh Gustafson, 17 Aaron Coundley, 18 Tim Ryan, 19 Lewis Evans, 20 Tom Brown, 21 Liam Davies, 22 Ashley Smith, 23 Hallam Amos.
Date: Saturday, September 8
Venue: RDS, Dublin
Kick-off: 18.15 BST (17.15 GMT)
Referee: Marius Mitrea
Comments
crunchfit says...
@melkdave
Well, there's bigger problems than the one you keep focusing on. You say something went wrong but people know what the problem is. You seem to think it's all down to this policy.
No worries, but "failure" is a bit harsh. I mean, look at their record against England over the last few years and I wouldn't consider the English team a failure. Could do better, but that kind of record against a country with the rugby resources of England and beating a country as good as Australia, etc.
Posted 14:22 09th September 2012
melkdave says...
@To All
Ok ok perhaps ive let my hatred of the IRFU policy,get alitle carried away LOLI do NOT however hate Leinster or anyother irish club,and ive posted simalar posts on the Munster pages ect so not singling out just Leinster .I atually admire their style of play ect ,and donot begrudge them their HEC succeses so peace ok LOL.My intention was to hopefully start a debate as to its worth to the NATIONAL team not the clubs,.Where i feel it has hampered its development Since its introduction you have to admit something has gone wrong with the national team.From Grand Slam champions to struggling nobodies says it all imo.,Given the amount of talant in the team and @Crunchfit i said one of the reasons for the national teams failure ,im well aware there are other problems ,but thats a entirely different debate LOL.SO PEACE TO ALL and lets just enjoy the rugby from now on ok LOL
Posted 11:48 09th September 2012
Toulousain says...
I too come in peace..... and I never thought i'd say it....but i think i'm finally bored of this whole issue!!
mind you, we're still angry about losing to edinburgh in the qf last season. T14 champions losing to pro12 bottom dwellers. just doesn't add up. given toulouse's political clout, I think that's where this whole debate really got started. where it will end is anyone's guess.
in the meantime, every club has to do the best it can, within the rules, with the squad and resources it has. what is beyond debate is that leinster and toulouse have the two finest academy structures in europe imo. leinster have also just moved into shiny new custom made premises. (we are still building ours at ST). watch your backs leinster.... ST is hot on your tail!!
Posted 18:53 08th September 2012
Sincero says...
Well, we've had three years of this and two European Cups, so something is working. Criticise the IRFU as much as you want- most club members and supporters despise them more than you could imagine. However, I wouldn't be harping about Welsh success too much- you can't get a region to the European level at all, and you lie 4th in the all time 6N table (we're 2nd). Get your own house in order, and consider turning up to support your team once in a while... because if you go bust, we all suffer. So get your ample behind off the couch and pretend you are actually a nation rather than a province of Eastern England, and make believe rugby is your national sport. Either that of get your ample behind down to support Swansea and give the actual rugby supporters some peace.
Posted 16:28 08th September 2012
crunchfit says...
That is not the reason for "failure". There is a much bigger problem than this policy that most rugby fans should be aware of. You seem to have a problem with the policy because you think it affects the quality of Ireland's rugby / players, yet I don't see you posting about the bigger problem(s).
Well Leinster and provinces are the people abiding by the policy, the IRFU are the ones who made it so it would make more sense to discuss it on an article relating to the latter. Simple enough.
Anyway, if you disagree with the policy, it's not a reason to have such dislike for the provinces. There are pros and cons to the system, and the defeat last week showed that.
Posted 13:56 08th September 2012
leinsterblue says...
@melkdave - I come in peace, I genuinely do...the issue is not with your postings about the IRFU player policy, which as a Leinster fan I do agree with...for me, you are constantly posting your concers on anything to do with Leinster - consequently, you are coming across as being anti-Leinster as you do not put the same posts on any of the other province sites...Leinster are feeling the effects of the player policy simply because we are the most represented province in the national side - a few years ago, that was Munster...simply saying that Leinster get hammered because of a policy outside their control, really fuels the belief that you are anti-Leinster
Posted 10:32 08th September 2012
melkdave says...
@To all irish posters
Yes my gripe is with the IRFU and not the teams ,as such.The policy just dosent work imo,at international leval,since its introduction ,Ireland just dont perform consistently, lack of constant high pressure games and individual players needs not being met ,i feel is a major reason for this failure..@Crunchfit ill happaly post my concerns when the aurtum internationals start,on the national team pages ,but till then just where do you suggest i post those same concerns??@Sincero good for the irish teams ,as ive said i dont blame the clubs at all,but that rather points to how bad most of the Pro12 teams are by camparison squad wise imo,Not all quality welsh players are directed by the WRU to play for just 2 teams over the last 10 or so years,so there success is a tad artifical imo,not that i begruge them it ,as im english not welsh.I do like Pro12 games though ,the standard of rugby is usually good to watch .@Leinster_Goy LOLOLOL thanks for the epiphet LOL ill treasure it ,just hope ive at least started a debate between irish club supporters as ive said i like Pro12 rugby ,and the way the clubs play ,and dont begruge them any success,but i do feel the IRFU policy is hurting Ireland at international leval,im pro rugby notanti any club or nation ok..
Posted 23:24 07th September 2012
crunchfit says...
@melkdave
You want them to get hammered simply because of the IRFU policy? I very, very much dislike the IRFU, they repeatedly fail to do what is best for Irish rugby (as they show repeatedly). It's pretty clear that your problem is with the IRFU yet you focus on criticising the provincial teams. Maybe you actually have some sort of grudge with the Irish provinces or you aren't aware of IRFU and the Irish provinces, because you're repeated criticism of the Irish teams are misplaced. You don't really make much sense.
Posted 18:19 07th September 2012
leinster_goy says...
melkdave
by the divine power vested in me by the grace of BOD, i hereby ordain you "melktroll"
Posted 18:11 07th September 2012
Sincero says...
@melkdave... have you considered having fewer opinions on this topic before you either learn to spell or learn the basics of rugby? Let me help you on your way... Rugby is a team game played with an oval ball that may be kicked, carried, and passed from hand to hand. Points are scored by... well, I see you're looking tired, so that's enough for today.
No offence taken... actually your hilarious bitterness regarding all things Irish only really reflects upon your weak disposition and the abject failure of Welsh regions and their supporters on the big stage.
The IRFU policy of resting internationals systematically came in 3 years ago, and for the past 3 years an Irish team has finished top of the league every year. So come back to me when we're not competitive in the league anymore or when Wales produce a regional team the taffies can be bothered to support or one which European clubs will take in any way seriously.
Posted 16:44 07th September 2012
papachinzo says...
Three starters in that Leinster 22... I think another loss for 'the boys in blue' is imminent.
Posted 15:12 07th September 2012
melkdave says...
Well i expect most posters know my views on the IRFU player policy LOL.So im again hoping that Leinster get hammered,but to be honest i cant see a hammering,so hoping for a loss instead.,no offence Leinster fans ,just hate the IRFU policy ok.
Posted 14:09 07th September 2012