PENNY'S CAPE OF GOOD HOPE

Stalwart confident of securing first Leinster win at Stormers

- BY DEREK FOLEY

LEINSTER will start their opening game against Stormers in Cape Town with 11 internationals on the pitch.

That encompasses all seven backs as Sam Prendergast is at out-half and Ciaran Frawley slots in at No12, also the front-row and Ryan Baird; Diamuid Mangan, Brian Deeny, Scott Penny and James Culhane (below) are uncapped.

Penny is the senior player in this latter quartet, turning 26 last Tuesday and having already banked 68 Leinster appearances and a remarkable 29 tries.

It also means he has seen enough preseasons to understand the particular challenges this Cape Town game presents.

“Last season was great, we got into our rhythm early in the URC but, obviously, it is very different to that right now because we have a few different groups,” said Penny.

“There are the Lions lads and the Irish lads who were away in Portugal and Georgia so we kind of had those that were here from the very start.

“So while any group always has constant change, I think the foundation we build here for this game was there for the very start and I think it has been a great block so far.