Dooley joins the 100 club
Daire Walsh
Peter Dooley will become the latest Leinster centurion when Leo Cullen’s men take on Benetton at Stadio Monigo in the United Rugby Championship this afternoon (kick-off 12.55pm Irish time).
Although he is reportedly set to join Connacht at the beginning of next season – along with Adam Byrne, David Hawkshaw and the already-announced Josh Murphy – the Offaly native will make his 100th first-team appearance for Leinster in Treviso. On what will be his first start of the current campaign, Dooley lines out in the front-row with Seán Cronin and Thomas Clarkson.
In total, there are nine changes to the Blues’ starting line-up from yesterday week’s 21-13 victory at the expense Emirates Lions. Among those to come into the team are Jimmy O’Brien and Jordan Larmour, who both trained with the Ireland squad in the lead-up to last weekend’s Six Nations game against Italy before missing out on match day selection.
They are joined in the back-three by Tommy O’Brien, player of the match for Leinster in that aforementioned win over the Lions. For the third game succession, the Byrne brothers – Ross and Harry – form a creative axis at 10 and 12 with team captain Luke McGrath and Jamie Osborne their respective half-back and centre partners.
In the second-row, 20-year-old Academy star Joe McCarthy will pick up his third senior cap alongside the more seasoned Ross Molony.
Having scored his fourth try in as many games off the bench the last day out, Scott Penny is rewarded with a start in a back-row that will also feature Irish internationals Rhys Ruddock and Max Deegan. Cullen has opted for a host of experienced faces like Devin Toner, Dan Leavy and Dave Kearney on the bench as his charges look to overcome Marco Bortolami’s Italians and finish the weekend at the summit of the URC table.
LEINSTER: J O’Brien; J Larmour, J Osborne, H Byrne, T O’Brien; R Byrne, L McGrath; P Dooley, S Cronin, T Clarkson; R Molony, J McCarthy; R Ruddock, S Penny, M Deegan.
Replacements: J Tracy, E Byrne, M Ala’alatoa, D Toner, D Leavy, C Foley, R O’Loughlin, D Kearney.
BENETTON: A Coetzee; L Pani, J Riera, F Drago, R Smith; T Albornoz, A Garbisi; F Zani, C Els, N Tetaz; N Piantella, C Wegner; M Meggiato, L Cannone, T Halfihi.
Replacements: T Baravalle, M Drudi, C Traore, A Steyn, A Izekor, L Petrozzi, M Zanon, L Sperandio.