Leinster ended the regular season in 2015/16 with a thumping 50-19 win over Benetton Treviso, but Leo Cullen’s men are preparing for a much stiffer challenge from the Italians at the RDS tonight.
GUINNESS PRO12: Friday, September 2
LEINSTER v BENETTON TREVISO, the RDS, 7.35pm (live TG4)
Team News: Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has named his first team of the new GUINNESS PRO12 season as the province get ready to host Benetton Treviso at the RDS.
Joey Carbery will make his first start at number 10 having made his Leinster debut last season off the bench away to Glasgow Warriors in March. Luke McGrath will captain the side for the second time in his career from scrum half. It will be the first time for the former St. Michael’s College pupil to lead the team out at the RDS.
Elsewhere in the back-line, Rob Kearney starts at full-back and is joined in the back-three by 31-times capped Springbok Zane Kirchner and Fergus McFadden on the wings.
Noel Reid and Garry Ringrose will get an opportunity to impress from 12 and 13 having last started together in the centre last November against the Scarlets in a 19-15 win.
In the pack there is a competitive return for Cian Healy after nearly five months out with knee and neck injuries. Bryan Byrne makes his first GUINNESS PRO12 start since last October, while Michael Bentfeatures on the opposite side of the scrum at tighthead.
Ross Molony and Mike McCarthy pair up in the second row and Dominic Ryan, Josh van der Flier and Dan Leavy start together in the back row after impressing in the province’s three pre-season friendlies.
Should Cullen bring them on off the bench, there will be full Leinster debuts for former Hurricane Jamison Gibson Park at scrum half and Academy pair Andrew Porter and Rory O’Loughlin.
Tickets for the game are still available online here or can be purchased at the ground from Ticketmaster from 6.05pm. Finally, supporters are asked to use public transport if at all possible.
Meanwhile, Benetton Treviso, who finished bottom of the table last season, have a new head coach in Kiwi Kieran Crowley who previously coached the Canadian national team.
There is also a fresh look to the Italians’ matchday squad with eight newcomers involved – five in the starting line-up and a further three among the replacements.
Dubliner and ex-Leinster out-half Ian McKinley is sure to get a warm reception from the crowd if he is introduced off the Treviso bench. Five years on from the injury that caused him to lose the sight in his left eye, the 26-year-old returns to the RDS as the only professional rugby player in the world wearing the protective Raleri goggles.
Jayden Hayward, Treviso’s top scorer in 2015/16, anchors their back-line from full-back, with Angelo Esposito and Andrea Buondonno completing the back-three. Tommaso Benvenuti returns from his spells at Perpignan and Bristol to partner Luke McLean in the centre, while fellow Italy international Tommaso Allan debuts at out-half alongside Giorgio Bronzini, another recent recruit.
Alessandro Zanni, the 99-times capped Azzurri favourite, skippers the team from the back row alongside Francesco Minto and Marco Lazzaroni, one of Treviso’s try scorers in Dublin last May. Marco Fuser and Filo Paulo pair up in the second row, and Nicola Quaglio, who signed from Rovigo Delta, will win his first cap in a front row completed by hooker Ornel Gega and tighthead Simone Ferrari.
LEINSTER: Rob Kearney; Zane Kirchner, Garry Ringrose, Noel Reid, Fergus McFadden; Joey Carbery, Luke McGrath (capt); Cian Healy, Bryan Byrne, Michael Bent, Ross Molony, Mike McCarthy, Dominic Ryan, Josh van der Flier, Dan Leavy.
Replacements: James Tracy, Andrew Porter, Mike Ross, Hayden Triggs, Jordi Murphy, Jamison Gibson Park, Cathal Marsh, Rory O’Loughlin.
BENETTON TREVISO: Jayden Hayward; Angelo Esposito, Tommaso Benvenuti, Luke McLean, Andrea Buondonno; Tommaso Allan, Giorgio Bronzini; Nicola Quaglio, Ornel Gega, Simone Ferrari, Marco Fuser, Filo Paulo, Francesco Minto, Marco Lazzaroni, Alessandro Zanni (capt).
Replacements: Roberto Santamaria, Alberto de Marchi, Tiziano Pasquali, Dean Budd, Marco Barbini, Edoardo Gori, Ian McKinley, David Odiete.
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Sean Brickell (Wales), Joy Neville (Ireland)
Television Match Official: Jon Mason (Wales)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Leinster to win: 1/20; Draw: 40/1; Benetton Treviso to win: 10/1
Pre-Match Quotes: Girvan Dempsey (Leinster) – “Cian (Healy) had a good hit-out against Bath in Donnybrook the other night; we were very pleased with how he came through the game. He’s been champing at the bit for a while now.
“He was delighted to get back on the field and I thought he performed really well. He got his hands on the ball a number of times and had some good carries. We’re just delighted to have him back.
“Cian’s character is incredible. His mental strength is unbelievable. He just loves the game. He’s had setbacks through injury but he’s come through the other side, he’s worked really hard and he’s in great shape now. He’s itching to put the Leinster jersey on and play on Friday night.”
Ian McKinley (Benetton Treviso) – “This game has huge relevance to me and indeed it will be strange to be gearing up for a game in the away changing room.
“However, what is more important is that we perform as a team. Pre-season went well and now we must kick on from the positive work that has been done so far.”
Top Scorers – 2015/16 GUINNESS PRO12: Leinster – Points: Isa Nacewa 96; Tries: Isa Nacewa 9; Benetton Treviso – Points: Jayden Hayward 155; Tries: Jayden Hayward, Robert Barbieri 4 each
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Sunday, November 24, 2013 – Benetton Treviso 20 Leinster 21, Stadio di Monigo
Friday, April 18, 2014 – Leinster 62 Benetton Treviso 7, the RDS
Sunday, November 23, 2014 – Benetton Treviso 24 Leinster 24, Stadio di Monigo
Friday, May 8, 2015 – Leinster 10 Benetton Treviso 0, the RDS
Sunday, November 1, 2015 – Benetton Treviso 3 Leinster 27, Stadio di Monigo
Saturday, May 7, 2016 – Leinster 50 Benetton Treviso 19, the RDS
MATCH FACTS:
– Leinster’s only victory in their last eight season opening fixtures in the GUINNESS PRO12 was 42-19 at the Scarlets in 2013, however they have not begun the season with a home game since beating Edinburgh at the RDS in 20017
– The Leinstermen have won their last 13 home games in the PRO12 since drawing 34-all with Glasgow Warriors at the RDS in March 2015
– Benetton Treviso have just twice before begun a PRO12 season with a victory, at home to the Scarlets in 2010 and the Ospreys in 2012
– The Italians’ only success in their last seven league fixtures was 22-21 at home to Connacht in round 21
– Treviso have not won away from home since their short trip to Zebre in December 2014
– Leinster are unbeaten in their last 11 matches against Treviso, while their only defeat to an Italian side in the PRO12 came in Treviso in September 2010
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