Rob Kearney Returns for Leinster

Rob Kearney will return to the Leinster team as they bid to put their Champions Cup disappointment behind them when they face Ulster in the Guinness Pro12 in the RDS on Friday night.

This is Kearney's first appearance since that game against Scarlets earlier this month. Zane Kirchner, winning his 50th cap for the province, is on the right win with Luke Fitzgerald completing the back three.

In a change to the half-back pairing from last weekend Luke McGrath comes in at scrum-half to partner Johnny Sexton in place of Isaac Boss.

There are four changes to Leinster's front eight from the defeat to Bath: Jack McGrath replaces Cian Healy, Tadhg Furlong starts after featuring for Leinster 'A' last week, Mike McCarthy comes in to replace Hayden Triggs, and Josh van der Flier starts in the back row after his try-scoring debut in the Champions Cup.

Leinster (v Ulster Rugby, Guinness Pro12, RDS, Friday November 27, 7.35pm)

15. Rob Kearney; 14. Zane Kirchner; 13. Ben Te'o; 12. Ian Madigan; 11. Luke Fitzgerald; 

10. Johnny Sexton; 9. Luke McGrath; 1. Jack McGrath; 2. Sean Cronin; 3. Tadhg Furlong; 

4. Devin Toner; 5. Mike McCarthy; 6. Rhys Ruddock; 7, Josh van der Flier; 8. Jamie Heaslip CAPTAIN

Replacements; 16. James Tracy; 17. Peter Dooley; 18. Martin Moore; 19. Ross Molony; 

20. Dominic Ryan; 21. Eoin Reddan; 22. Noel Reid; 23. Garry Ringrose

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Schmidt - RWC Starts Now in Earnest

Ireland's World Cup campaign "starts in earnest now" after Sunday's convincing bonus-point victory over Romania, according to coach Joe Schmidt.

The 44-10 win sees Ireland go top of Pool D and they can seal a quarter-final spot if they beat Italy at the Olympic Stadium next Sunday.

"Next week is the pivotal week. It's pressure for us and pressure for Italy," said Schmidt.

"That is why people come to a World Cup - they want to see how teams respond."

After facing Italy, Ireland complete their pool fixtures with a match against France on October 11.

"For us it starts in earnest now, because we know we can qualify if we win next weekend," added Schmidt.

"The game against France just decides who we play in the quarter-final if we can win next week.

"Italy, after a win and a loss, need to win to qualify. It becomes a last-16 game for us."

Ireland must wait to find out if Rob Kearney will be fit after he was injured in scoring the fifth try shortly after coming on as a substitute.

"Rob was involved in a high-speed play after coming on the pitch and just after scoring the try he's jarred himself," Schmidt added.

"We hope it is not too much but the next 24 to 48 hours will tell if he has done anything telling for next week."

Losing Kearney would be a setback for Ireland, but several players impressed in a dominant performance against Romania.

Schmidt made 12 changes with Italy and France in mind, but his altered line-up showed few signs of weakness, scoring six tries, including four in the second half.

Tommy Bowe and Keith Earls crossed the line twice each, before Kearney and Chris Henry added two more late on, and Simon Zebo also staked a claim with an impressive display at full-back.

"There were a number of players who performed really well and will create a big of selection headache for Italy," Schmidt said.

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Alone They Stand

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Ireland Face Autumn Without Kearney

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Ireland full-back Rob Kearney has been ruled out of the autumn internationals against South Africa, Fiji and Argentina because of a back injury.

Kearney requires surgery and will be out for about about 10 weeks.

The 31-man Irish squad for the series includes four uncapped players: Luke Marshall, Iain Henderson, David Kilcoyne and Richardt Strauss.

Meanwhile, Munster assistant coach Anthony Foley is joining the Ireland set-up as defence coach.

The former international's arrival will allow Les Kiss to lead the attack shape for the team, as well as continuing to coach the backline.

Foley will remain working with Munster outside of the international window.

Ulster scrum-half Paul Marshall is a surprise absentee after his impressive performances this season with Eoin Reddan and Conor Murray included.

Marshall's Ulster half-back partner Paddy Jackson also misses out with Jonathan Sexton and Ronan O'Gara remaining the fly-half options.

With Kearney set to undergo surgery on Thursday, Keith Earls looks to be the obvious contender for full-back although Ulster's Tommy Bowe could be another option.

Ulster centre Luke Marshall and forward Henderson took part in the Ireland training camp last month, while Munster prop Kilcoyne and Leinster's South African-born hooker Strauss are newcomers to the squad.

Leinster and Ulster both supply 10 players with Munster's having a nine-strong representation and Connacht's John Muldoon and Mike McCarthy also included.

Irish coach Declan Kidney said: "We have three incredibly competitive games ahead of us in November and while there have been quite a few injuries and niggles in the early part of the season, it has opened up opportunities for other players to step into the squad.

"There are world ranking points on offer, so the underlying challenge for us is to work towards retaining and improving our ranking position ahead of the Rugby World Cup pool draw [which will take place in early December].

"While that is the end goal, our focus will be getting our preparations right to match the intensity of international games.

"I'm pleased that Anthony has taken up the offer of working with the squad to assist during this vital period in November.

"His previous experience of working with the team during the last RBS 6 Nations championship was important, but his own abilities and experience were central to bringing him on board."

Ireland start against South Africa on 10 November at the Aviva Stadium, followed by a Thomond Park clash with Fiji a week later and finishing against Argentina in Dublin on 24 November.

Ireland squad: Rory Best (Ulster), Tommy Bowe (Ulster), Darren Cave (Ulster), Tom Court (Ulster), Gordon D'Arcy (Leinster), Keith Earls (Munster), Stephen Ferris (Ulster), Cian Healy (Leinster), Jamie Heaslip (Leinster), Iain Henderson (Ulster), Chris Henry (Ulster), David Kilcoyne (Munster), Luke Marshall (Ulster), John Muldoon (Connacht), Conor Murray (Munster), Mike McCarthy (Connacht), Fergus McFadden (Leinster), Kevin McLaughlin (Leinster), Donncha O'Callaghan (Munster), Paul O'Connell (Munster), Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster), Ronan O'Gara (Munster), Peter O'Mahony (Munster), Eoin Reddan (Leinster), Mike Ross (Leinster), Donnacha Ryan (Munster), Jonathan Sexton (Leinster), Richardt Strauss (Leinster), Andrew Trimble (Ulster), Dan Tuohy (Ulster), Simon Zebo (Munster).

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Kearney named ERC Player of the Year

The prestigious award crowns an outstanding season for the full-back who started every one of Leinster's nine European games as the Irish club triumphed in the Heineken Cup for an unprecedented third time in four years. Kearney succeeds teammate, Sean O'Brien, as the winner of northern hemisphere rugby's ultimate individual accolade.

The 26-year-old scored six tries during the campaign and pushed himself into contention for the honour with a series of high-quality displays in the tournament's pool and knockout stages.

Kearney scored two tries in the quarter-final victory over the Cardiff Blues, then followed that up by creating a try for Cian Healy and landing a superb drop goal in the thrilling semi-final success against ASM Clermont Auvergne, before playing a key role in Leinster's record-breaking 42-14 final win over Ulster Rugby at Twickenham Stadium last Saturday.

Kearney was presented with his award, a specially struck gold medal, by ERC Chief Executive, Derek McGrath, at a ceremony in ERC offices in Dublin today (Monday, 21 May 2012).

"Rob was both rock-solid in defence and inspirational in attack during what was another magnificent Heineken Cup campaign for our 2012 champions, Leinster," said McGrath. "He scored six tries, ran powerfully, kicked superbly and the sheer all-round quality of his performances made him an excellent choice as ERC European Player of the Year 2012."

"It really is an honour to have won this award," said Kearney. "While I am delighted with the recognition, an individual player is powerless without the support of his teammates. So I owe this to the Leinster squad, to the management and to all the backroom staff at the club."

The search for the best player from the 44 clubs in ERC's two tournaments, the Heineken Cup and the Amlin Challenge Cup, was undertaken by a Judging Panel which comprised of:

Stuart Barnes (Sky Sports), Raphael Ibanez (2011/12 Heineken Cup Ambassador), Stephen Jones (Rugby Correspondent, The Sunday Times), Emmanuel Massicard (Editor, Midi Olympique) and Gerry Thornley (Rugby Correspondent, The Irish Times).

The expert panel was presented with a longlist at the conclusion of the pool stages in both tournaments, and after the quarter-finals and semi-finals, that list was pared down to the following five players:

• Stephen Ferris (Back-row, Ulster Rugby)

• Rob Kearney (Full-back, Leinster Rugby)

• Ruan Pienaar (Scrum-half, Ulster Rugby)

• Jonathan Sexton (Out-half, Leinster Rugby)

• Jonny Wilkinson (Out-half, RC Toulon)

The shortlist was also forwarded to the 44 clubs, and their recommendations, as well as those of European club rugby supporters who voted on Twitter @ercrugby and on the tournaments' Facebook pages, were factored into the deliberations of the panel which reconvened in London, host city for the two European finals, to complete the selection process. The winner was then confirmed after the finals.

In 2010, ERC launched the highly-acclaimed ERC15 Awards, recognising the efforts of a number of outstanding contributors to the first decade and a half of European club rugby competition. Two-time Heineken Cup winner, Ronan O'Gara (Munster Rugby), was the inaugural recipient of the ERC European Player honour as the best player over the first 15 years of the two tournaments, and last year, Sean O'Brien (Leinster Rugby), was voted ERC European Player of the Year 2011.

FACTFILE

Born: 26 March 1986, Dundalk, County Louth

Height: 1.85m / 6'1"

Weight: 95kg / 14st 13lbs

School: Clongowes Wood College

Province: Leinster Rugby

Club: University College Dublin

Heineken Cup appearances: 43

Ireland caps: 38

British & Irish Lions tests: 3 (v South Africa, 2009)

Kearney Leaves Paris Past Behind

Ireland full-back Rob Kearney has told his team-mates to focus on the job in hand when they travel to France on Sunday.

The Irish make their second trip to Paris following the late cancellation of the match two weeks ago, in the knowledge they have won there only once in 40 years.

Kearney insists it is critical they do not become overwhelmed by the burden of past failures, instead adopting a more routine approach.

"I don't think we need to do something special. That's where we fall down sometimes when we play in France," said the Leinster back.

"We look at our record and it doesn't fill us with confidence, so maybe we feel as though we have to try something different there.

"Where we have always fallen down in France is that we've had a very poor start, giving up a big lead 20-30 minutes into the game.

"When you're playing a team of the calibre of France you can't do that and expect to win.

"We always put together a well-rounded second-half performance, but more often than not it's too late.

"This weekend it's hugely important that we don't give them that start."

Confidence

Ireland have beaten Italy 42-10 since their ill-fated trip to Paris earlier this month and Kearney admits they make the trip with more confidence this time around.

"Naturally we'll travel to Paris with a bit more confidence now that we have a win under our belts," said the Lions full-back. "We're in a much better place than maybe we were two or three weeks ago.

"Tries win games and to score five of them against Italy is really pleasing. We're starting to get more clinical in the green zone area of play.

"We were too guilty of playing too much in our own half, but it's pleasing that when we did get into the right areas we took our opportunities.

"If we're to beat France then we need to score tries and be clinical against them as well."