Leinster full-back Isa Nacewa will captain the side for the first time when the Irish club tackle Treviso in Friday's Magners League clash at the RDS.
Nacewa leads in a backline which welcomes back David Kearney for the visit of the Italian side. In the pack Stan Wright is named in the starting line-up for the first time this season after making his comeback as a second-half replacement last weekend in Cardiff.
Wright comes into the front row alongside Richardt Strauss and Heinke van der Merwe, with Ireland international Kevin McLaughlin named in the back-row alongside Dominic Ryan and Stephen Keogh.
Rhys Ruddock is one of seven replacements who have come through the Leinster Academy in recent years, with a further eight graduates in the starting line-up.
Form: Leinster's 3-11 reversal at the hands of the Blues on Saturday ended a seven-game winning run in all competitions. The Leinstermen have not lost a home regular season match in the Magners League since Munster visited the RDS on 28 September 2008. Benetton Treviso have won three of their last five matches in the Magners League, although have not tasted victory outside of Italy since they beat Dragons at Rodney Parade in the European Cup in December 2007. Treviso won 29-13 when the two teams met at Stadio Monigo in round three.
The teams:
Leinster: 15 Isa Nacewa (c), 14 Andrew Conway, 13 Eoin O'Malley, 12 Eamonn Sheridan, 11 David Kearney, 10 Ian McKinley, 9 Isaac Boss, 8 Stephen Keogh, 7 Dominic Ryan, 6 Kevin McLaughlin, 5 Devin Toner, 4 Ed O'Donoghue, 3 Stan Wright, 2 Richardt Strauss, 1 Heinke van der Merwe
Replacements: 16 Jason Harris-Wright, 17 Jack McGrath, 18 Clint Newland, 19 Rhys Ruddock, 20 Paul Ryan, 21 Paul O'Donohoe, 22 Ian Madigan, 23 Niall Morris.
Treviso: tbc
Date: Friday, 25 February
Venue: RDS
Kick-off: 19:10 GMT
Comments
adamk says...
And yeah, I agree, the likes of McKinley, Sheridan etc., etc. need as much game time as possible. I thought McKinley looked very dangerous as 10 in the last game.
Posted 13:37 25th February 2011
adamk says...
Lessons to be learned from Cardiff. I think it'll be a tight game until 60-70 minutes and then the backline will open up the Italian side. 23-10 to Leinster.
Posted 13:36 25th February 2011