LEINSTER go to Italy with a lighter squad than they may have liked and given Treviso’s burgeoning reputation and their ability to pull off some big results, Joe Schmidt’s team will travel with caution.
Schmidt does bring a potent back line who will aim to provide a cutting edge. Ian Madigan returns at outhalf. He has scored three tries so far this season and has shown that given the option of a pass or sniffing out a gap, he will generally take on the ball himself.
But it’s the return of Fergus McFadden, who is included on the right wing that will cause most smiles around the camp. McFadden has recovered sufficiently from medial knee ligament damage to earn a place on the flank.
Eoin O’Malley’s impressive two-try performance against Glasgow last Sunday cemented his place in the outside centre position.
Fionn Carr, Luke Fitzgerald and Gordon D’Arcy form the rest of an attacking backline.
Rhys Ruddock and Leo Auva’a join captain Shane Jennings in the back row, with Damian Browne and Devin Toner filling the lock positions, Jamie Hagan and Ireland prop Cian Healy in the front row and Seán Cronin hooking.
Leinster has lost two matches from eight and are in second place on the table with Treviso in a healthy sixth.
Treviso coach Franco Smith has made one change to his back line and replaced Ludovico Nitoglia with Luke McLean at fullback. Flanker Paul Derbyshire replaces Benjamin Vermaak to renew his back row partnership with Italy team-mates Alessandro Zanni and Robert Barbieri, while Valerio Bernabò comes in for Cornelius van Zyl at lock. Secondrow Antonio Pavanello will captain the side.
Cohesion, continuity and focus for a number of players anxious to make a name for themselves could undermine Leinster’s effort.
TREVISO: L McLean; B De Jager, T Benvenuti, S Sgarbi, B Williams; K Burton, T Botes; L Cittadini, E Ceccato, M Rizzo; V Bernabo, A Pavanello; R Barbieri, A Zanni, P Derbyshire. Replacements: F Sbaraglini, M Muccignat, I Fernandez Rouyet, B Vermaak, M Vosawai, F Minto, F Semenzato, A Di Bernardo.
LEINSTER: L Fitzgerald; F McFadden, E O’Malley, G D’Arcy, F Carr; I Madigan, E Reddan; C Healy, S Cronin, J Hagan; D Browne, D Toner; R Ruddock, S Jennings, L Auva’a. Replacements: A Dundon, J McGrath, N White, K McLaughlin, J Heaslip, I Boss, N Reid, B Macken
Referee: G Clancy (IRFU).
Verdict: Treviso
