Horgan makes Leinster history
Shane Horgan will become the first Leinster player to reach the 75 Heineken Cup appearance landmark and the wing is named in a back-line which features six Ireland internationals for the visit of the French side.
Brian O’Driscoll partners Gordon D’Arcy at centre, with Eoin Reddan lining up at half-back alongside the returning Jonathan Sexton who, alongside prop Cian Healy, will make their 50th appearances for the province.
In the pack, Healy is named in the front row alongside hooker John Fogarty and Stan Wright, with Leo Cullen leading the side. Shane Jennings starts in the back-row alongside Kevin McLaughlin and Jamie Heaslip.
South African international CJ van der Linde has recovered from injury to take his place on a strong looking bench which includes Ireland internationals Girvan Dempsey, Bernard Jackman, Sean O’Brien, Malcolm O’Kelly and Mike Ross.
Brive are still without England’s Andy Goode and Riki Flutey have not been named. Australian Lacklan Mackay starts at centre with Luciano Orquera at flyhalf.
The teams:
Leinster: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Shane Horgan, 13 Brian O’Driscoll, 12 Gordon D’Arcy, 11 Isa Nacewa, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Shane Jennings, 6 Kevin McLaughlin, 5 Nathan Hines, 4 Leo Cullen (captain), 3 Stan Wright, 2 John Fogarty, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements: 16 Bernard Jackman, 17 Mike Ross, 18 CJ van der Linde, 19 Malcolm O’Kelly, 20 Sean O’Brien, 21 Paul O’Donohoe, 22 Shaun Berne, 23 Girvan Dempsey.
Brive: 15 Scott Spedding, 14 Nicolas Jeanjean, 13 Jamie Noon, 12 Lachlan Mackay, 11 Horacio Agulla, 10 Luciano Orquera, 9 Jean-Baptiste Pejoine, 8 Antoine Claassen, 7 Fabien Domingo, 6 Alix Popham, 5 Damien Browne, 4 Retief Uys, 3 Pascal Idieder, 2 Steve Thompson, 1 Pablo Henn.
Replacements: 16 Guillaume Ribes, 17 Petrisor Toderasc, 18 Christian Short, 19 Simon Azoulai, 20 Shaun Perry, 21 Viliame Waqaseduadua, 22 Régis Bianco, 23 Pat Barnard.
Kick-off: 18:00
Venue: RDS
Referee: Andrew Small (England
