RG Snyman during a Leinster training session at UCD. Photo: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
RG Snyman will make his highly-anticipated Leinster debut alongside a host of returning international stars as Leo Cullen named a strong Leinster side to face Treviso in Italy tomorrow.
Snyman has recovered from a foot injury to partner Joe McCarthy in the second-row as Cullen makes 12 changes to the team that faced the Dragons last Friday.
Eight Irish internationals return to the starting line up, including Hugo Keenan, who makes his first appearance in the 15-man game since reaching the quarter-finals of the Olympic Games with the Irish Sevens team.
James Lowe comes in to the back three while Jimmy O’Brien makes the switch to the right wing. Garry Ringrose partners Jamie Osborne in the centre, who makes the switch from full-back.
Jamison Gibson-Park comes back into the team for his second appearance of the season as Ciarán Frawley takes the number ten shirt.
Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher and Tadhg Furlong complete a front row all making their first appearances of the season and Jack Conan switches to flanker as Caelan Doris makes his first start since being named captain, at the base of the pack.
Josh van der Flier is also drafted into the starting team after coming off the bench against Dragons, completing the back three alongside Doris and Conan.
Lee Barron and Michael Milne retain their places on the bench where they are joined by Thomas Clarkson, who started the first two games of the season.
Ryan Baird is set for his first action of the season, with Brian Deeny and Scott Penny completing a 6-2 split on the Leinster bench.
Academy scrum-half Fintan Gunne is set to make his second appearance of the season off the bench as Ross Byrne provides the cover at out-half after scoring a try in last week’s win.
Leinster: H Keenan; J O’Brien; G Ringrose; J Osborne; J Lowe; C Frawley; J Gibson-Park; A Porter; R Kelleher; T Furlong; J McCarthy; RG Snyman; J Conan; J van der Flier; C Doris (Capt). Reps: L Barron, M Milne, Thomas Clarkson, R Baird, B Deeny, F Gunne, R Byrne, S Penny.
Referee: Craig Evans (WRU).
Treviso v Leinster, Live RTÉ 2 & Premier Sports 1 (KO 5.35 Irish time)
