Leinster take on Treviso away tomorrow and have named an exceptionally strong team for the clash.
After a five-month layoff, Gary Ringrose is back for the boys in blue while Josh van der Flier also returns from injury. There is a start for New Zealand's James Lowe who makes his long-awaited debut on the wing.
Fresh from a successful spell with the Irish squad for the November Internationals Andrew Porter starts in the front-row alongside James Treacy and a Jack McGrath eager to cement his starting spot.
WATCH: @Ringrose_G returns and @jameslowenz makes his debut! #BENvLEI pic.twitter.com/vQv8SwTSZL
— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) December 1, 2017
The game is a good tune-up for a crucial block of games as Leinster look forward to back-to-back Champions Cup games against the Exeter Chiefs in December. Speaking prior to the game, Leinster centre Noel Reid stressed how a victory would be a great opener to a big month:
They’re looking really good. They were close to winning away to Ulster there, and they’ve had some really good games so far this season. They pushed Toulon pretty close in the Champions Cup as well.
A win over Benetton will also the continue the momentum generated from the bonus point win over Dragons as the squad look ahead to the back-to-back games against the English champions.
Reid, who partners Ringrose in the centre, is happy to have the Irish players back involved:
Momentum is a massive thing in rugby. This week’s huge for us. We’ll filter a few of the Irish boys back in, get a bit of a buzz going and have a good performance this weekend which then leads to Europe.
The game kicks off at 3.30pm and will be live on TG4.
Leinster team: Jordan Larmour; Dave Kearney, Garry Ringrose, Noel Reid, James Lowe; Ross Byrne, Luke McGrath (capt); Jack McGrath, James Tracy, Andrew Porter, Ian Nagle, Scott Fardy, Jordi Murphy, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan.
Replacements: Sean Cronin, Ed Byrne, Vakh Abdaladze, Mick Kearney, Max Deegan, Nick McCarthy, Fergus McFadden, Rory O'Loughlin.
