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Preview: Leinster v Castres

Friday 05th December 2008

Aussie in France: Castres centre Steve Kefu

Castres Olympique have named their team to visit Leinster for the Heineken Cup Pool Two clash at RDS in Dublin on Saturday.

France and Castres captain Lionel Nallet, who has been plagued by a series of injuries this season, is the most notable absentee. Aussie import Steven Kefu starts at outside centre with Kiwi Cameron McIntyre moving to full-back to allow Anthony Lagardere to start at fly-half.

Castres have only won one out of their last 11 matches on their travels so expect Leinster to put one foot towards qualification.

Ireland internationals Luke Fitzgerald, Jamie Heaslip, Shane Jennings and Rob Kearney are included in Leinster's 24-man panel for the visit of the French side.

The squad also features fellow Ireland stars Girvan Dempsey, Trevor Hogan, Shane Horgan, Bernard Jackman, Brian O'Driscoll and Leinster's most capped player Malcolm O'Kelly, while New Zealander David Holwell is also included in the panel after his recent return to the province.

Meanwhile, the addition of Springbok prop CJ van der Linde is one of four changes to the Leinster side that defeated the Dragons 29-13 last weekend.

The South African World Cup winner starts in the front row alongside Stan Wright and Ireland international hooker Bernard Jackman. Jamie Heaslip starts at number eight in a back-row which includes Rocky Elsom and Sean O'Brien.

In the back-line, Luke Fitzgerald returns to partner Brian O'Driscoll at centre with Rob Kearney coming on to the wing.

Form: Leinster head Pool 2 after a brilliant start to this season's campaign. Brian O'Driscoll and co. have collected bonus-point victories over Edinburgh and London Wasps with impressive performances. The Irish province are defending an unbeaten home record of nine matches. Things could not be worse for Castres. Second last in the Top 14, their last outing finished in a 23-9 home to defat to fellow strugglers Bourgoin. In fact in twelve starts, the Tarn club have won just three times. The sides have never met before in the Heineken Cup.

The teams:

Leinster: 15 Girvan Dempsey, 14 Shane Horgan, 13 Brian O'Driscoll, 12 Luke Fitzgerald, 11 Rob Kearney, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Chris Whitaker, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Sean O'Brien, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Malcolm O'Kelly, 4 Devin Toner, 3 CJ van der Linde, 2 Bernard Jackman, 1 Stan Wright.
Replacements: 16 Brian Blaney, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Trevor Hogan, 19 Stephen Keogh, 20 Chris Keane, 21 David Holwell, 22 Simon Keogh.

Castres: 15 Cameron McIntyre, 14 Charles Sika, 13 Steve Kefu, 12 Lionel Mazars, 11 Rafael Carballo, 10 Anthony Lagardere, 9 Kevin Senio, 8 Florian Faure, 7 Darron Nell, 6 Lei Tomiki, 5 Colin Gaston, 4 Ludovic Michaux, 3 Luc Ducalcon, 2 Mathieu Bonello, 1 Gideon Lensing.
Replacements: 16 Akvsenti Giorgadze, 17 Yannick Forestier, 18 Fabio Staibano, 19 Joe Tekori, 20 Steve Malonga, 21 Sébastien Tillous-Borde, 22 Thomas Bouquié.

Date: Saturday, December 6
Venue: RDS, Dublin
Kick-off: 13:35 GMT
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Touch judges: Nigel Whitehouse (Wales), Hugh Watkins (Wales)
Television match official: Derek Bevan (Wales)

Heineken Cup Pool 2 Win Outright: Leinster 1/6