Star-studded line-up shows Leinster mean business

You'd love to have been a fly on the wall when Benetton head coach Marco Bortolami got a first look at the Leinster team sheet this week.

After a draw and a defeat in their first two games, the Italians have made a slow start to the BKT United Rugby Championship, after what was an impressive campaign last season.

Two bonus-point wins from two games have Leinster in their usual pace-setting position, but a week out from their big Croke Park date with Munster, Leo Cullen has decided to bring the heavy cargo to Italy.

The starting line-up contains 14 Ireland internationals, while the odd one out is double World Cup-winning Springbok RG Snyman. Somehow, James Ryan, Robbie Henshaw and Jordie Barrett will have to factor into the squad later this season.

It’s a rare sight to see Leinster so locked and loaded for a URC away trip to Italy.

Of this week’s starting XV, only three were involved when the province last went to Stadio Monigo in March 2022; Jimmy O’Brien, Jamie Osborne and Joe McCarthy, the latter of whom was playing just his third game for the province.

Looking back on that team sheet is an illustration of how much has changed at Leinster in two and a half years. Of the starting line-up that day, Peter Dooley has moved to Connacht, Ross Molony has gone to Bath, while Sean Cronin and Rhys Ruddock have both retired. Of the eight replacements that day, Cormac Foley is the only one still playing for the province.

The pressure is on Cullen (above) to deliver this season after three trophyless campaigns, and although the province have picked up maximum points from their opening two games, this afternoon’s team selection is an indication that the season really starts today.

Two selections immediately draw the eye.

The second row