Leinster v Zebre - RaboDirect PRO12 match preview
Leinster welcome back a number of players from international duty for Saturday's RaboDirect PRO12 clash with Zebre.
Last Updated: 30/11/12 2:28pm
Ireland centre Gordon D'Arcy is set to make his 211th appearance for the province and will start in the No.13 jersey, 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, while 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.
Zebre rugby director Christian Gajan has shuffled his pack ahead of the trip to face the Heineken Cup champions in Dublin.
South African number eight Andries Van Schalkwyk hase been given a week's rest from RaboDirect PRO12 action with Filippo Cristiano deputising.
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 join Cristiano in 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.
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.