RICHARDT STRAUSS MAKES a welcome return to the Leinster fold for their Guinness PRO12 clash with Zebre tomorrow afternoon.
The hooker suffered a serious hamstring injury against Edinburgh back in May and required surgery which ensured a frustrating and prolonged period on the sidelines.
Last Saturday, he featured for Leinster’s ‘A’ side in a game against their Munster counterparts with Strauss playing for over an hour.
Tomorrow’s appearance will be his 95th for the province and will feature in the front-row alongside Jack McGrath and Marty Moore.
Elsewhere, in the second row, it will be a first away appearance for Kane Douglas while in the back row, Josh van der Flier makes his full debut.
After picking up an injury against Scarlets earlier in the competition, Zane Kirchner returns on the right wing and Noel Reid partners Gordon D’Arcy in the centre – the 24 year-old is back after being forced off after less than a minute against Glasgow in Round One.
LEINSTER TEAM TO PLAY ZEBRE:
15. Rob Kearney CAPTAIN
14. Zane Kirchner
13. Gordon D’Arcy
12. Noel Reid
11. Darragh Fanning
10. Ian Madigan
9. Isaac Boss
1. Jack McGrath
2. Richardt Strauss
3. Marty Moore
4. Mike McCarthy
5. Kane Douglas
6. Rhys Ruddock
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Jack Conan
REPLACEMENTS:
16. Bryan Byrne
17. Ed Byrne
18. Tadhg Furlong
19. Devin Toner
20. Jamie Heaslip
21. Luke McGrath
22. Jimmy Gopperth
23. Mick McGrath
