Nine Lions in Leinster matchday squad for Zebre game

Leinster have named nine of their 12 players selected for the British and Irish Lions tour in the squad for Saturday’s United Rugby Championship contest against Zebre at the Aviva Stadium (17:15 BST).

James Lowe and Garry Ringrose will start in the backs with Ronan Kelleher, Joe McCarthy, Jack Conan and Josh van der Flier selected in the forwards and Jamison Gibson-Park, Andrew Porter and James Ryan included in the replacements.

The United Rugby Championship leaders retain six of their starters from last weekend’s shock Investec Cup semi-final defeat by Northampton.

Lowe, Ringrose and Lions squad omission Sam Prendergast are named in the backs with Kelleher, McCarthy and van der Flier retaining the forward starting roles.

New Zealand star Jordie Barrett is named at centre after coming on as a second-half replacement last weekend, while Conan will captain the side in the absence of injured Caelan Doris after also been introduced from the bench against Northampton.

Leinster’s replacements include Robbie Henshaw who was a notable omission from Andy Farrell’s Lions squad.

Full-back Ciaran Frawley will make his 100th Leinster appearance in Saturday’s game.

Leinster go into this weekend’s round of fixtures with an eight-point lead over second-placed Glasgow while Zebre are in 15th spot, with only marooned Dragons behind them in the table.

Leinster: Osborne; J O’Brien, Ringrose, Barrett, Lowe; Prendergast, McGrath; Boyle, Kelleher, Clarkson; McCarthy, Mangan; Baird, van der Flier, Conan (capt).

Replacements: McKee, Porter, Slimani, Ryan, Culhane, Gibson-Park, Frawley, Henshaw