Leinster side filled with quality for Zebre

Peter Stringer's name is synonymous with Munster rugby but Matt O'Connor yesterday aligned the former Irish scrumhalf with a possible move to Leinster as he looks towards the World Cup months and sees a hole at scrumhalf opening up in his side.

The 37-year-old Stringer announced that he was leaving Bath at the end of the season, having played with the club in two campaigns.

‘Recruitment process’

“So anyone who comes on to the market, especially Irish, is of interest to us,” said O’Connor at yesterday’s team announcement. “We’re involved in that recruitment process the whole time. It’s a 12-month job, and if there are blokes who we think can add value, and they fit the criteria, then we’ll look at them.”

O'Connor was asked specifically if Stringer might fit into his thinking if Eoin Reddan or Isaac Boss were selected to go on Ireland duty later this year.

“I think he’s been doing a great job for Bath. He’s been very good for them, and if it was a [World Cup-affected] squad, or whatever, it might be an opportunity for us,” added the Leinster coach.

O’Connor has made seven changes from last week, when three players went down with concussion. But the incoming personnel give Leinster considerably more sparkle.

The primary focus is to beat a team that has never won in the RDS but also for a handful of players to impress.

It's a decent backline with Gordon D'Arcy, Fergus McFadden, Luke Fitzgerald and Eoin Reddan providing big international reputations for O'Connor.

Note of urgency

Shane Jennings

retirement at the end of the season should also add a note of urgency to his game and the season in general and he’ll want to lead the side to a win after last week’s 16-14 fall to Newport.

Even the bench is banging with quality with Seán Cronin, Dave Kearney and Cian Healy, who seeks game time, all ready to come on in what is a down week for the Irish squad.

Healy will have worked out how many minutes he needs for a much anticipated possible return for the Six Nations game against England next week.

When the sides met last season in Dublin, Leinster won it handy by 27-0. The scoreline may well change tonight but few expect the outcome to be any different.

LEINSTER: Z Kirchner; F McFadden, B Te'o, G D'Arcy, L Fitzgerald; J Gopperth, E Reddan; M Bent, A Dundon, M Moore, M McCarthy, K Douglas, D Ryan, S Jennings (capt), J Conan. Replacements: S Cronin, C Healy, T Furlong, B Marshall, D Leavy, I Boss, C Marsh, D Kearney ZEBRE: H Daniller; B Berryman, M Bergamasco, M Pratichetti, M Visentin; L Orquera, B Leonard; S Vinisa, Mauro Bergamasco (capt), J Sarto, M Sutto, V Bernabo, L Leibson, O Fabiani, A De Marchi. Replacements: L Giovanchelli, L Naka, L Redolfini, G Bernini, R Riccioli, A Chillon, E Padovani, D Odiete. Referee: N Owen (WRU). Verdict: Leinster.