GARRY RINGROSE WILL again partner Ben Te’o in the Leinster midfield for Sunday’s Pro12 trip to Zebre (3pm GMT).
With the province’s international stars away on Six Nations duty, Ringrose and Te’o have established themselves as Leo Cullen’s preferred centre pairing and team up for a fourth straight game.
There’s a total of eight changes to the side which edged a win in Cardiff last weekend, including a new half-back partnership of St Michael’s alumni Luke McGrath and Cathal Marsh.
Adam Byrne’s inclusion on the wing is the only other change in the backs, with five more in the pack.
Peter Dooley and James Tracey start in the front row while Ross Molony returns to the second row.
Dominic Ryan and Dan Leavy come into the back row on either side of last week’s Man of the Match Jack Conan, who remains at number eight.
Former Leinster out-half Ian McKinley starts at 10 for Zebre. McKinley, who was forced to retire in 2011 following a serious eye injury, has been able to return to rugby with the aid of protective goggles.
The eyewear was not permitted in Ireland until recently, when the IRFU signed up to a World Rugby trial.
Zebre
15. Mils Muliaina
14. Giulio Toniolatti
13. Tommaso Boni
12. Matteo Pratichetti
11. Kayle Van Zyl
10. Ian McKinley
9. Fabio Semenzato
1. Bruno Postiglioni
2. Oliviero Fabiani
3. Guillermo Roan
4. Quintin Geldenhuys
5. Marco Bortolami (c)
6. Jacopo Sarto
7. Federico Ruzza
8. Johan Meyer
Replacements:
16. Gabriele Morelli
17. Andrea De Marchi
18. Pietro Ceccarelli
19. Gideon Koegelenberg
20. Emiliano Caffini
21. Luke Burgess
22. Maicol Azzolini
23. Ulrich Beyers
Leinster
15. Zane Kirchner
14. Adam Byrne
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Ben Te’o
11. Isa Nacewa (c)
10. Cathal Marsh
9. Luke McGrath
1. Peter Dooley
2. James Tracy
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Ross Molony
5. Mick Kearney
6. Dominic Ryan
7. Dan Leavy
8. Jack Conan
Replacements:
16. Sean Cronin
17. Jeremy Loughman
18. Michael Bent
19. Hayden Triggs
20. Jordi Murphy
21. Nick McCarthy
22. Noel Reid
23. Cian Kelleher
The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!
