Preview: Leinster v Zebre

Editor

Zebre director of rugby Christian Gajan has named his side that will face the European champions Leinster in Dublin on Saturday.

Zebre rugby director Christian Gajan has announced his side that will face Heineken Cup champions Leinster at the RDS in Dublin on Saturday.

The Italian outfit's pack will see South African number eight Andries Van Schalkwyk given a week's rest from RaboDirect PRO12 action.

Matias Aguero, Carlo Festuccia and Irish prop David Ryan are set to start together while Italian international Quintin Geldenhuys is back in action after facing Tonga, the All Blacks and Wallabies in the November Tests. At his side will be Josh Sole while Nicola Cattina, Mauro Bergamasco and Filippo Cristiano form the back-row line-up.

Youngster Leonardo Sarto is on the wing while Samoan winger Sinoti Sinoti is on the other side. Matteo Pratichetti will pair up at centre with captain Gonzalo Garcia while in the halves Tito Tebaldi directs the offensive line with Daniel Halangahu.

Meanwhile, Leinster are set to welcome back a number of players from international duty including Gordon D'Arcy, who is set to make his 211th appearance for the province and will start at outside centre, while Eoin Reddan will partner Jonathan Sexton at half back.

Fergus McFadden is named in an exciting back three alongside Andrew Conway and Isa Nacewa.

Leo Cullen leads the team and partners Damian Browne at second row.

In addition there are home debuts for Ireland tighthead prop Michael Bent – who is named in the front row alongside returning internationals Sean Cronin and South Africa's Heinke van der Merwe – and centre Andrew Goodman, who has featured in the province's last two away league games.

The likes of Cian Healy, Mike Ross and Isaac Boss have been named on a strong replacements bench.

The teams:

Leinster: 15 Isa Nacewa, 14 Andrew Conway, 13 Gordon D'Arcy, 12 Andrew Goodman, 11 Fergus McFadden, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 Sean O'Brien, 7 Rhys Ruddock, 6 Kevin McLaughlin, 5 Damian Browne, 4 Leo Cullen (c), 3 Michael Bent, 2 Sean Cronin, 1 Heinke van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Aaron Dundon, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Mike Ross, 19 Tom Denton, 20 Jordi Murphy, 21 Isaac Boss, 22 Ian Madigan, 23 Fionn Carr.

Zebre: 15 Ruggero Trevisan, 14 Leonardo Sarto, 13 Gonzalo Garcia (capt), 12 Matteo Pratichetti, 11 Sinoti Sinoti, 10 Daniel Halangahu, 9 Tito Tebaldi, 8 Filippo Cristiano, 7 Mauro Bergamasco, 6 Nicola Cattina, 5 Josh Sole, 4 Quintin Geldenhuys, 3 David Ryan, 2 Carlo Festuccia, 1 Matias Aguero.
Replacements: 16 Davide Giazzon, 17 Andrea De Marchi, 18 Carlo Fazzari, 19 Emiliano Caffini, 20 Nicola Belardo, 21 Alberto Chillon, 22 David Odiete, 23 Paolo Buso.

Date: Saturday, December 1
Kick-off: 18:00
Venue: RDS, Dublin
Referee: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Stuart Gaffikin (Ireland), Richard Kerr (Ireland)
Television match official: Alan Rogan (Ireland)
Assessor: M Carroll (Ireland)