Schmidt hands Reid a first start

THE POINTS aside, Leinster’s home game against Aironi will offer the first glimpse of South African Steven Sykes and Noel Reid, both of whom come in for their competitive senior debuts.

Secondrow Sykes makes his return from injury beside Devin Toner in a pack which has Ciarán Ruddock making his second provincial appearance alongside his brother and team captain, Rhys, in the backrow.

Reid’s inclusion is a step up for the young Academy player and a chance to see how he will go against a side Leinster beat 21-16 in the RDS back in February. The 21-year-old Clontarf player partners Cillian Willis in the only change to the backline that started last week’s 15-10 win over Scarlets.

Coach Joe Schmidt is looking to repair the damage to Leinster’s 14-match home winning run broken by Glasgow in round three.

The Italian side collected their first league victory of the season against Edinburgh last week but, like his Leinster counterpart, Aironi coach Rowland Phillips is faced with injuries and has opted to rest others who have played in each the first four matches.

Tito Tebaldi and Tyson Keats pair up as a new halfback combination. Josh Sole returns at blindside flanker, with Simone Favaro moving to the openside.

LEINSTER: I Nacewa; F Carr, E O’Malley, L Fitzgerald, D Kearney; N Reid, C Willis; H van der Merwe, R Strauss, J Hagan; S Sykes, D Toner; C Ruddock, R Ruddock (capt), L Auva’a. Replacements: J Harris-Wright, J McGrath, J O’Connell, D Browne, J Murphy, J Cooney, I Madigan, B Macken.

AIRONI: R Trevisan; S Sinoti, R Quartaroli, C Pizzaro, G Venditti; T Tebaldi, T Keats; A De Marchi, R Santanaria (capt), F Staibano’ J Furno, G Biagi; J Sole, S Favaro, N Williams. Replacements: DGiazzon, M Aguero, L Redolfini, F Cazzola, F Ferrarini, N Olivier, G Pavan, R Pavan.

Referee: M Mitrea (France).

Verdict: Leinster win.