Jordi Murphy and Dave Kearney both starting for Leinster

The Leinster Rugby team has been named to face Benetton Treviso on Sunday in the Guinness PRO12

Dave Kearney returns from his cruciate ligament tear. Donall Farmer/Inpho
Dave Kearney returns from his cruciate ligament tear. Donall Farmer/Inpho

Jordi Murphy and Dave Kearney will both make their much-anticipated returns from injury as Leinster travel to Treviso on Sunday.

Matt O’Connor welcomes Murphy back into the pack for the first time this season as he competes his return from a shoulder injury. While Dave Kearney comes in on the left wing returning from the anterior cruciate ligament tear which has sidelined him since as far back as May.

Murphy last played competitive rugby in June during the Ireland summer tour to Argentina, while Kearney hasn't played since the PRO12 play-off win over Ulster in May.

Fitzgerald at 13

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With Kearney returning to the left wing, Darragh Fanning continues on the right wing meaning a shift to outside centre for Luke Fitzgerald. It's his first start at centre for Leinster since last November's 19 to 23 away win over the Newport Gwent Dragons.

Inside Fitzgerald will be Noel Reid, while Luke McGrath and Jimmy Gopperth have been retained at halfback. Zane Kirchner continues at full back.

Richardt Strauss starts at hooker having been a try scorer for Ireland in last weekend’s Guinness Series win over Georgia, while Michael Bent and Tadhg Furlong start at loose head and tight head.

Tom Denton and Kane Douglas are selected in the second row, while in the back row Kevin McLaughlin once again captains the side with Jordi Murphy at openside flanker and Jack Conan again selected at No.8.

Among the replacements is Jamie Hagan who arrived during the week on a short term loan deal from London Irish.

Leinster team:

Zane Kirchner; Darragh Fanning, Luke Fitzgerald, Noel Reid, Dave Kearney; Jimmy Gopperth, Luke McGrath; Michael Bent, Richardt Strauss, Tadhg Furlong; Tom Denton, Kane Douglas; Kevin McLaughlin, Jordi Murphy, Jack Conan.

Replacements:

Bryan Byrne, Peter Dooley, Jamie Hagan, Ben Marshall, Dominic Ryan, Isaac Boss, Cathal Marsh, Brendan Macken

Eamon Donoghue

Eamon Donoghue

Eamon Donoghue is a former Irish Times journalist