Both teams have to deal with the absence of several internationals capped for the RBS Six Nations: twelve in the Azzurri camp while seventeen at the orders of Ireland head coach Schmidt.
After the break weekend the two teams are back on the field in the fourteenth round of the Guinness PRO12 coming both off two consecutive losses: Zebre have surrendered at home against Gloucester in the Challenge Cup and Munster in the Guinness PRO12 while Leinster lost in London against the Wasps in the Champions Cup and in Newport in the Guinness PRO12.
Zebre coaching staff has announced the Italian side line-up that will face the 4th ranked team of Leinster in a big hunt for a playoff spot after missing this target last season.
The second leg of the challenge will be played on inverted fields in two weeks time, with Zebre to host the Irish at Stadio Lanfranchi on Sunday, February 28.
Compared to the last challenge of two weeks ago in Parma against Munster, among the 23 list of the Italian side there are only two changes: injured wing Visentin and international fly half Haimona didn't travel to Dublin.
Two young permit players called from the main Italian league Eccellenza will join Zebre squad: Fiamme Oro Rugby fly-half Maicol Azzolini -two caps in the Guinness PRO12 in the October World Cup window- and deb Rugby Viadana 1970 winger Abou Souare.
Zebre Rugby team manager Andrea De Rossi presents the tomorrow's game: "We'll face a strong team also reinforced by the return from injury of two Ireland props at the last World Cup like Healy and Ross.
Leinster is back back on home soil from two straight defeats with the aim of making a big performance. We know this and we are ready for this challenge.
This group of players has already demonstrated against Munster that can keep this high level of international games. We are happy to give confidence at the fly-hal position to former Italian Academy Azzolini and also to Souare who has shown good speed and athletic qualities during the training week: we're sure that he will trim its space starting from the bench becoming an important player on the field".
Here's Zebre line-up for Friday February 12nd match at he RDS Arena in Dublin (Ireland) for the 14th round of the Guinness PRO12 against Leinster. Kick off at 7.30 pm local time :
15 Ulrich Beyers
14 Dion Berryman
13 Tommaso Boni*
12 Matteo Pratichetti
11 Kayle Van Zyl
10 Maicol Azzolini*
9 Luke Burgess
8 Jean Cook
7 Johan Meyer
6 Emiliano Caffini*
5 Marco Bortolami (cap)
4 Gideon Koegelenberg
3 Guillermo Roan
2 Oliviero Fabiani
1 Bruno Postiglioni
Replacements :
16 Emiliano Coria
17 Andrea De Marchi
18 Pietro Ceccarelli
19 Federico Ruzza*
20 Filippo Cristiano
21 Giulio Toniolatti
22 Mils Muliaina
23 Abou Souare
Coach. Gianluca Guidi
Not available for selection due to injury: Tommaso D'Apice*, Paul Derbyshire, Quintin Geldenhuys, Andrea Manici*, Jacopo Sarto, Marcello Violi*, Michele Visentin*
*Former member of the Italian Rugby Union academy "Ivan Francescato" of Tirrenia.
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (Welsh Rugby Union)
Assistant Referees: Leo Colgan e Mark Connolly (entrambi Irish Rugby Football Union)
No tv coverage of the game. Live text coverage of the game on www.pro12rugby.com
Guinness PRO12 Zebre News
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