LEINSTER COACH JOE SCHMIDT has called on a mix of youth and experience for tomorrow evening’s RaboDirect Pro12 game against Benetton Treviso in the RDS.
With most of Schmidt’s regular starters absent on Six Nations duty, 21-year-old centre Colm O’Shea has been promoted following a handful of B&I Cup appearances and makes his senior debut for the province.
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The Dubliner will team up alongside Brendan Macken in a baby-faced midfield, with Isa Nacewa joining Darren Hudson and Fionn Carr in the back three. Isaac Boss and Ian Madigan are paired together again at half-back following their performance in the Heineken Cup win over Montpellier last month.
Up front, Heinke van der Merwe, Richardt Strauss, Nathan White, Damian Browne and Devin Toner lead an experienced pack, while Kevin McLaughlin captains the team after recovering from a neck strain in time to take his place on the blindside. Shane Jennings and Leo Auva’a start alongside McLaughlin in the back row.
Big start: O’Shea to make Leinster debut against Treviso
LEINSTER COACH JOE SCHMIDT has called on a mix of youth and experience for tomorrow evening’s RaboDirect Pro12 game against Benetton Treviso in the RDS.
With most of Schmidt’s regular starters absent on Six Nations duty, 21-year-old centre Colm O’Shea has been promoted following a handful of B&I Cup appearances and makes his senior debut for the province.
The Dubliner will team up alongside Brendan Macken in a baby-faced midfield, with Isa Nacewa joining Darren Hudson and Fionn Carr in the back three. Isaac Boss and Ian Madigan are paired together again at half-back following their performance in the Heineken Cup win over Montpellier last month.
Up front, Heinke van der Merwe, Richardt Strauss, Nathan White, Damian Browne and Devin Toner lead an experienced pack, while Kevin McLaughlin captains the team after recovering from a neck strain in time to take his place on the blindside. Shane Jennings and Leo Auva’a start alongside McLaughlin in the back row.
Leinster: Nacewa; Hudson, Macken, O’Shea, Carr; Madigan, Boss; van der Merwe, Strauss, White; Browne, Toner; McLaughlin (c), Jennings, Auva’a. Replacements: Sexton, McGrath, Hagan, Flanagan, Murphy, Cooney, Reid, Boyle.
Benetton Treviso: Nitoglia; De Jager, Galon, Pratichetti, Williams; Di Bernardo, Chillon; Filippucci, Vermaak, Padrò; Bernabò, Minto; Fernandez Rouyet, Ceccato, Muccignat. Replacements: Vidal, Fazzari, Di Santo, Fuser, E. Pavanello, Picone, Garcia, Iannone.
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Benetton Treviso Guinness PRO12 Joe Schmidt Leinster RDS Team-Sheet