Carlow man Thomas Daly will make his Leinster Senior debut against Zebre in Round 8 of the Guinness PRO12 tomorrow in Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi at 5.05pm.
The local man has featured for the Leinster A team over the past few seasons and follows fellow county men Sean O Brien and Byrne brothers Edward and Bryan getting capped for their province.
Tullow man Sean O Brien has been named at openside flanker for the match as he returns to full fitness following a long layoff.
Leo Cullen has made seven changes in total from the side that beat Connacht last weekend in a sold out RDS, 20 year old loose head prop Andrew Porter making his first start in the number one jersey.
Isa Nacewa captains the side from full back with try scorers from last weekend, Adam Byrne and Barry Daly, continuing on the right and left wing respectively.
Noel Reid is again selected at inside centre for his seventh start of the season, with 23 year old Carlow native and former Knockbeg College student Tom Daly wearing a Leinster senior jersey for the first time outside him.
Jamison Gibson-Park continues at scrum half with Leinster Academy outhalf Ross Byrne partnering him from the start tomorrow having come off the bench against Connacht last weekend.
Andrew Porter, making his first start, will be joined in the front row by experienced duo Richardt Strauss at hooker and Michael Bent at tight head. Strauss has recovered from knee surgery to make his first senior appearance of the season having played with the Leinster ‘A’ team and Old Wesley over the last two weekends.
Mike McCarthy comes into the second row from the start this weekend and will be joined by former Maori All Black Hayden Triggs, for his second appearance of the season.
It’s as you were in the back row with last week’s Guinness Man of the Match Dan Leavy again selected at blind side flanker, with Sean O’Brien at open side and Jack Conan selected at number eight.
Cullen has gone with six forwards and two backs on his bench with Rhys Ruddock making a welcome return from a calf injury and with UCD back Hugo Keenan in line to make his Leinster debut should he be introduced. Keenan has played with Leinster ‘A’ in the first two rounds of the British & Irish Cup on the right wing but tomorrow will be his first senior match day involvement.
LEINSTER:
15. Isa Nacewa (155) CAPTAIN
14. Adam Byrne (5)
13. Tom Daly (0)
12. Noel Reid (67)
11. Barry Daly (2)
10. Ross Byrne (4)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (9)
1. Andrew Porter (1)
2. Richardt Strauss (131)
3. Michael Bent (68)
4. Mike McCarthy (67)
5. Hayden Triggs (16)
6. Dan Leavy (22)
7. Sean O’Brien (104)
8. Jack Conan (32)
16. James Tracy (24)
17. Peter Dooley (25)
18. Mike Ross (143)
19. Mick Kearney (14)
20. Rhys Ruddock (117)
21. Nick McCarthy (3)
22. Dominic Ryan (106)
23. Hugo Keenan (0)
