LUKE FITZGERALD HAS been rested for Leinster’s RaboDirect PRO12 clash with the Cardiff Blues on Friday night, with Isa Nacewa returning at full-back.
Joe Schmidt has made six changes to the side that beat Treviso last weekend, with David Kearney coming in alongside Fionn Carr, Eoin O’Malley and Fergus McFadden teaming up in the centre and Gordon D’Arcy rested under the IRFU player management programme.
The second row comprises skipper Leo Cullen, Steven Sykes and Sean O’Brien, while Shane Jennings and Rhys Ruddock make up the back-row.
Jonathan Sexton, Sean Cronin, Rob Kearney and Mike Ross are all included on a strong replacements bench.
Cardiff, meanwhile, welcome back Xavier Rush for the trip to Dublin. The Welsh side are currently on a run of four successive victories, despite an injury list that includes Leigh Halfpenny, Jamie Roberts, Alex Cuthbert, Lloyd Williams, Gethin Jenkins, Scott Andrews, Bradley Davies and Sam Warburton.
Leinster: I Nacewa; D Kearney, E O’Malley, F McFadden, F Carr; I Madigan, I Boss; C Healy, R Strauss, N White, L Cullen, S Sykes, R Ruddock, S Jennings, S O’Brien.
Replacements: S Cronin, H vd Merwe, M Ross, D Brown, L Auva’a, E Reddan, J Sexton, R Kearney.
Cardiff: C Czekaj; R Mustoe, C Laulala, G Evans, T James; C Sweeney, R Rees; J Yapp, R Tyrrell, T Filise, C Hill, P Tito, M Molitika, J Navido, X Rush.
Replacements: M Breeze, N Trevett, S Hobbs, M Cook, M Paterson, L Jones, G Davies, D Hewitt.
