Leinster Team Announcement

There are two changes in the backs from the team that took to the field last week in the Liberty Stadium with Brian O'Driscoll returning at 13 in place of Gordon D'Arcy and Darragh Fanning starting on the left wing in place of Dave Kearney. Noel Reid, who scored a try against Treviso in November, retains his place at inside centre, while Rob Kearney continues at full back and Zane Kirchner plays on the right wing.

There is no change in the half backs with Jimmy Gopperth and Isaac Boss continuing at ten and nine respectively. Gopperth kicked 14 points last week against the Ospreys and lines out for his 25th Leinster cap. Boss is edging ever closer to a century of Leinster appearances and tomorrow will mark his 95th game in blue.
Jamie Heaslip captains the side from eight and the pack sees no changes in the front row with Cian Healy, Sean Cronin and Martin Moore starting once again.

There is one change in the second row with Mike McCarthy starting in place of Leo Cullen and a further two changes in the back row with Rhys Ruddock and Jordi Murphy starting in place of the injured Kevin McLaughlin and Shane Jennings.

While Leinster come in to this game on the back of two away losses, they are unbeaten in the RaboDirect PRO12 at home in the last eleven games, including eight successive wins.

In the corresponding fixture between the two sides in November in the Stadio Monigo, Leinster scraped home by the narrowest of margins 20-21 with a Jimmy Gopperth penalty in the 75th minute proving decisive.

Jono Gibbes and Rhys Ruddock will be available to media today at 12.30 in the media room, in the RDS.

LEINSTER:

15: Rob Kearney
14: Zane Kirchner
13: Brian O'Driscoll
12: Noel Reid
11: Darragh Fanning
10: Jimmy Gopperth
9: Isaac Boss

1: Cian Healy
2: Sean Cronin
3: Martin Moore
4: Devin Toner
5: Mike McCarthy
6: Rhys Ruddock
7: Jordi Murphy
8: Jamie Heaslip CAPTAIN

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Richardt Strauss
17: Jack McGrath
18: Michael Bent
19: Tom Denton
20: Dominic Ryan
21: Luke McGrath
22: Ian Madigan
23: Brendan Macken

Referee: Neil Paterson (SRU) Assistant Referees: Eddie Hagon-O'Connell, Will O'Connor (both IRFU) Citing Commissioner: Eugene Ryan (IRFU) TMO: Dermot Moloney (IRFU)