Leinster big guns ready to fire

The youngsters and the dirt-trackers did their bit during the World Cup, but Leinster are gradually dusting off their Sunday best for the bigger business to come with Jonathan Sexton among those drafted in to the side for tomorrow’s outing in Italy.

Denuded of 19 players who were needed for World Cup duty, and more flown over later as injury cover, the province managed to win all three home ties in their absence while claiming just the one losing bonus point from two road trips.

Nine of those World Cup representatives start in a side that will feature a dozen Irish internationals and another quartet makes the bench. Jamie Heaslip, Sean O’Brien, Mike Ross, Nathan White, Rob Kearney and Ian Madigan will wait a further week to pull on the blue.