Leo Cullen’s Leinster side travel to the Stadio Monigo on Sunday to face Benetton Treviso, with an eye firmly on leaders Munster and second-place Ospreys as Guinness PRO12 action returns this weekend. Team news (Benetton Treviso): Promising young winger Luca Sperandio starts for Treviso, with Irish-born Ian McKinley at No. 10 alongside Tito Tebaldi and top try-scorer Dean Budd pulling on the No. 7 jersey for what will be an intriguing battle with opposite man Dan Leavy. Tommaso Iannone is a threat at 13, while Test centre Alberto Sgarbi will provide a steadying hand at inside centre against Noel Reid and Rory O’Loughlin. Team news (Leinster): Joey Carbery makes his Guinness PRO12 return for Leinster, starting on the bench as Cullen is able to name an all-action back line to take on the Italians. Ross Byrne starts at No. 10, flyer O’Loughlin starts at 13, with Adam Byrne and the returning Dave Kearney on the wings. Up front, Richard Strauss skipper Leinster for the first time, with Leavy and Jack Conan forming an imposing scavenging pair at openside and No. 8. Talking points: Standout fly-half Carbery has gone from relative unknown to Ireland cap this season and after an ankle injury sustained against Northamtpton Saints in the European Rugby Champions Cup, he’s set to make his comeback from the bench against Treviso. “Joey is just back into the fold, and is going really, really well. He’s started training back, and is looking in good shape,” Girvan Dempsey said. “He just wants to get back on the field. He realises that his first stepping stone is to try and get into the Leinster squad, get game-time under his belt, and worry about higher honours further down the line.” Key battle: Robert Barbieri v Jack Conan Italy international Robert Barbieri and Conan both bring huge power from the base of the scrum and are equally adept at having an influence at the breakdown. Conan grabbed a hat-trick against Montpellier in Europe and has been in excellent form for Cullen’s side, while Barbieri has had an injury disrupted year and will be looking to lay down a marker against a Leinster side without several key players on RBS 6 Nations duty. Key stat: The Leinstermen have not lost on a visit to Italy since going down 13-29 in Treviso in September 2010. Did you know? The two sides have met on thirteen previous occasions in the Guinness PRO12 with Treviso’s only win being on their first clash at Stadio Monigo in round 3 of 2010/11, although the two sides did play out a 24-all draw in Italy in November 2014. Benetton Treviso: 15 David Odiete, 14 Andrea Pratichetti, 13 Tommaso Iannone, 12 Alberto Sgarbi, 11 Luca Sperandio, 10 Ian McKinley, 9 Tito Tebaldi, 8 Robert Barbieri, 7 Dean Budd, 6 Marco Lazzaroni, 5 Teofilo Paulo, 4 Filippo Gerosa, 3 Tiziano Pasquali, 2 Luca Bigi, 1 Federico Zani Replacements: 16 Davide Giazzon, 17 Nicola Quaglio, 18 Matteo Zanusso, 19 Francesco Minto, 20 Guglielmo Zanini, 21 Enrico Francescato, 22 Michael Tagicakibau, 23 Andrea Buondonno Coach: Kieran Crowley Leinster: 15. Zane Kirchner, 14. Adam Byrne, 13. Rory O’Loughlin, 12. Noel Reid, 11. Dave Kearney, 10. Ross Byrne, 9. Jamison Gibson-Park,1. Peter Dooley, 2. Richardt Strauss, 3. Michael Bent, 4. Mick Kearney, 5. Ian Nagle, 6. Dominic Ryan,7. Dan Leavy, 8. Jack Conan Replacements: 16. Bryan Byrne, 17. Andrew Porter, 18. Mike Ross,19. Ross Molony, 20. Peadar Timmins, 21. Luke McGrath, 22. Joey Carbery, 23. Barry Daly (5)Benetton Treviso: Top points scorer: 66 – Tommaso Allan Top try scorer: 4 – Dean Budd Leinster: Top points scorer: 78 – Isa Nacewa Top try scorer: 5 – Adam Byrne Overall Guinness PRO12 head to head record: Played 13, Treviso won 1, Leinster won 11 with 1 game drawn. At Stadio Monigo, 1.30pm local time (12.30pm Ireland & UK) Referee: Dan Jones (WRU, 3rd competition game) Assistant Referees: Rhys Thomas (WRU), Andrea Spadoni (FIR) Citing Commissioner: Stefano Marrama (FIR)
