Cullen Selects Youthful Leinster Side To Play Zebre
After training in UCD this morning, Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has named the team to face Zebre in the GUINNESS PRO12 at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi on Sunday (kick-off 4pm local time/3pm Irish time).
Leo Cullen has made eight changes to the side that accounted for Cardiff Blues last time out, with five of those switches coming in the pack.
Peter Dooley comes in at loosehead prop to start his third game of the season, while James Tracy gets the nod at hooker and Ireland international Tadhg Furlong continues at tighthead.
Ross Molony returns to the second row to partner Clontarf’s Mick Kearney who made his Leinster debut at BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park last weekend.
There are two alterations in the back row with Dominic Ryan starting at blindside flanker to win his 99th cap in blue, while Dan Leavy features at openside for his eighth game of the season. Last weekend’s man-of-the-match, Jack Conan, will once again pack down at number 8.
Zane Kirchner lines out at full-back with Adam Byrne on the left wing. Byrne scored his first Leinster try against Zebre two weeks ago at the RDS. Isa Nacewa, who ran in the province’s only try last weekend in the 14-13 win in Cardiff, will captain the team from the right wing.
St. Michael’s College past pupils, Luke McGrath and Cathal Marsh, come in at half-back with Ben Te’o and Garry Ringrose once again selected together in the centre.
LEINSTER (v Zebre): Zane Kirchner; Adam Byrne, Garry Ringrose, Ben Te’o, Isa Nacewa (capt); Cathal Marsh, Luke McGrath; Peter Dooley, James Tracy, Tadhg Furlong, Ross Molony, Mick Kearney, Dominic Ryan, Dan Leavy, Jack Conan.
Replacements: Sean Cronin, Jeremy Loughman, Michael Bent, Hayden Triggs, Jordi Murphy, Nick McCarthy, Noel Reid, Cian Kelleher.