Zebre v Leinster: Guinness PRO12 preview
Last Updated: 28/02/16 2:26pm
Partially-sighted former Leinster fly-half Ian McKinley starts for Zebre in Sunday's Guinness PRO12 clash in Parma, live on Sky Sports.
A graduate from the Leinster Academy, McKinley played four times for the province before being forced to retire at the age of 21 after losing sight in his left eye.
However he has returned to play for the Italians, and starts this weekend against his old club.
The 26-year-old is currently participating in World Rugby's Raleri Goggles trial, which the IRFU recently joined.
Speaking to RTÉ last year, McKinley said: "I can't see 25 per cent of what's to the side of me, but with plenty of exercise and future projects that I'm currently doing, hopefully this will continue to improve.
"I had three years out of the game and I feel that I need to make up for lost time."
McKinley lines up opposite Cathal Marsh, who will orchestrate a Leinster team featuring eight changes from the side that beat Cardiff Blues 14-13 last week.
Peter Dooley starts at loosehead prop, joining Tadhg Furlong and hooker James Tracy in the front row. Ross Molony comes back into the second row to partner Mick Kearney, who made his debut in the Cardiff win.
Jack Conan picked up an ankle injury during training on Friday so Jordi Murphy comes in at No 8. Dominic Ryan starts at blindside flanker and Dan Leavy completes the back row.
Zebre: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Giulio Toniolatti, 13 Tommaso Boni, 12 Matteo Pratichetti, 11 Kayle Van Zyl, 10 Ian McKinley, 9 Fabio Semenzato; 1 Bruno Postiglioni, 2 Oliviero Fabiani, 3 Guillermo Roan, 4 Quintin Geldenhuys, 5 Marco Bortolami (c), 6 Jacopo Sarto, 7 Federico Ruzza, 8 Johan Meyer.
Replacements: 16 Gabriele Morelli, 17 Andrea De Marchi, 18 Pietro Ceccarelli, 19 Gideon Koegelenberg, 20 Emiliano Caffini, 21 Luke Burgess, 22 Maicol Azzolini, 23 Ulrich Beyers.
Leinster: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Adam Byrne, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Ben Te'o, 11 Isa Nacewa (c), 10 Cathal Marsh, 9 Luke McGrath; 1 Peter Dooley, 2 James Tracy, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 4 Ross Molony, 5 Mick Kearney, 6 Dominic Ryan, 7 Dan Leavy, 8 Jordi Murphy.
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Jeremy Loughman, 18 Michael Bent, 19 Hayden Triggs, 20 Jordi Murphy, 21 Nick McCarthy, 22 Noel Reid, 23 Cian Kelleher.
Watch Leinster take on Zebre live on Sky Sports 3 HD on Sunday from 2.45pm. Catch the match for £6.99 on NOW TV. No contract.
