Strauss To Make Welcome Return v Ospreys

January 16, 2014 12:00 am client

Ahead of the visit to the RDS of the Ospreys on Friday evening (KO: 8.00pm), coach Matt O’Connor has made a number of changes and one surprise addition to the replacements bench for the Round 6, Heineken Cup clash.

The back division sees no change from the 15 that started in the hard fought away win in Castres last weekend, but up front there are four changes in personnel. However, the most surprising inclusion is the addition of the fit again Richardt Strauss as reserve hooker.

The four times capped Irish international was diagnosed with a heart condition last October and while initially ruled out for the rest of the season, he has progressed excellently to the extent that the medical team has cleared him to play sooner than expected.

Back to the starting 15 and Sean Cronin is once again selected at hooker and will win his 63rd Leinster cap against the Ospreys, while the fit again Cian Healy scrums down beside him after an impressive display off the bench against Castres. On the other side of Cronin, having been named in the extended Irish 6 Nations squad earlier in the week, Martin Moore gets the nod at tighthead. Last weekend’s starting props, Jack McGrath and Mike Ross, provide cover from the bench.

Should Mike Ross feature off the bench, it will be Corkman’s 100th Leinster appearance since joining in 2009/2010 from Harlequins.

Devin Toner and Mike McCarthy are retained in the second row but there are two changes in the back row with Kevin McLaughlin and try scorer against Castres Jordi Murphy making way for Rhys Ruddock and Shane Jennings.

Jamie Heaslip captains the side from 8.

There is one final change for Friday evening with the Bank of Ireland logo on the jersey being replaced by the Gahan Meats logo. Gahan Meats won a competition hosted by Bank of Ireland and were selected as the Leinster sponsor for the day and will have prominence on the jersey, in the match day programme and on pitch side hoardings.

Further infromation about Gahan Meats can be found at www.gahanmeats.ie or you can follow them on www.twitter.com/gahanmeats

The Official Leinster Supporters Club (OLSC) can confirm the following international coverage of the game this weekend.

UK & Ireland – Live on Sky Sports 1 from 8pm Friday and highlights on TG4 from 11.20pm
USA – Live on Fox Soccer 2 Go from 3pm ET (delayed on Fox Soccer Plus from 9pm ET)
Canada – Live on Sportsnet World from 3pm Friday
South Africa – Live on Super Sport 5 from 10pm Friday
Asia – Live on Eurosport Asia from 4am HKT Saturday
Australia – Live on Setanta Sports from 7am AEDT Saturday
New Zealand – Live on The Rugby Channel from 9am Saturday
Radio – Live on RTE 2FM – on radio, on line and via app

Twitter- www.twitter.com/leinsterrugby

Our bases in London (Philomena’s of Covent Garden), New York (Madhatter Saloon), Boston (Lir on Boylston), Dubai (McGettigans), Sydney (PJ Gallagher’s @ The Criterion) and Christchurch (Monza Sports Bar) will all be showing the game LIVE.

See our Blue Planet Guide for rugby friendly venues who play games in over 50 cities around the world (we recommend calling ahead to check) here.

LEINSTER:

15. Rob Kearney

14. Dave Kearney

13. Brian O’Driscoll

12. Gordon D’Arcy

11. Luke Fitzgerald

10. Jimmy Gopperth

9. Eoin Reddan

1. Cian Healy

2. Sean Cronin

3. Martin Moore