Good evening folks, nice of you to join us.

Table-topping Leinster host Benetton Treviso for our first action in the RaboDirect Pro12 for over a month.

The Italians travelled to Thomond Park last time out and went down 29-11 to Munster. They face a tough task to prevent Joe Schmidt’s side doing the double over them tonight, having lost 30-20 in Stadio di Mongi back in November.

There are several absentees on both sides due to the Six Nations, however.

Here are the line-ups:

Leinster: Nacewa; Hudson, Macken, O’Shea, Carr; Madigan, Boss; van der Merwe, Strauss, White; Browne, Toner; McLaughlin (c), Jennings, Auva’a.

Replacements: Sexton, McGrath, Hagan, Flanagan, Murphy, Cooney, Reid, Boyle.

Benetton Treviso: Nitoglia; De Jager, Galon, Pratichetti, Williams; Di Bernardo, Chillon; Filippucci, Vermaak, Padrò; Bernabò, Minto; Fernandez Rouyet, Ceccato, Muccignat.

Replacements: Vidal, Fazzari, Di Santo, Fuser, E. Pavanello, Picone, Garcia, Iannone.

It’s a big night for Colm O’Shea, who makes his Leinster debut at centre. The 21-year-old former Belvedere College player will be partnered by Brendan Macken while Darren Hudson is named on the wing with Fionn Carr and Isa Nacewa completing the back three.

Isaac Boss and Ian Madigan pair up at half-back, meanwhile. Kevin McLaughlin is back from injury and skippers the side instead of Shane Jennings.

Treviso, who are severely understrength, have Benjamin De Jager back after recovering from a chest injury which kept him out since November.

Francesco Minto also makes a comeback from suspension.

15 minutes until we get underway. Let’s hope that there’s just a bit of traffic congestion around Ballsbridge and the stadium soon fills up!

George Hook and Bernard Jackman are pitchside discussing today’s Ireland team selection.  Both look like they could do with a warm hat.

Treviso have emerged  from the changing rooms as we await Leinster.

And Welsh referee Leighton Hodges signals the start of the game as Alberto Di Bernardo kicks off for the visitors…

Postive opening minutes from the home team, who pile on the pressure. A knock on sees Treviso clear.

Ian Macken takes down De Jager  and earns a penlty for Leinster.

Leinster 3-0 Treviso

Isa Nacewa sweeps over from a difficult angle to scoring the first points of the game.

Leinster turn over and a counter attack ends with a superb kick from Darren Hudson. Treviso have a scrum five metres out and their box kick is knocked forward by Hudson.

They eventually get it away and Leinster are in possession again.

Tremendous interception by Nacewa who catches a cross-field ball and sets off on a fine run. The full-back then fails to offload to Hudson, who would certainly have been in for a try.

Leinster 3-3 Treviso

Di Benardo finds the corner with his boot and after the line-out, he receives possession back and attempts a drop goal.

The technique isn’t outstanding but the ball manages to make its over the crossbar to level the score.

Leinster 8-3 Treviso

Ian Madigan cuts inside goes over for his sixth try of the season in this competition. Nacewa’s conversion attempt is skewed wide, however.

Brendan William’s neat grubber kick is expertly cleaned up by Nacewa.

Meanwhile, Pedro Di Santo comes on for Treviso No3 Ignacio Fernandez Rouyet, who struggles to even hobble away from the action.

Williams fancies a go from distance with a penalty kick but is some distance away. Half an hour on the clock.

Leinster 11-3 Treviso

Nacewa steps up for his second penalty of the night and puts it over to give the home team an eight-point lead.

“Both sides are trying to play the right way in very difficult conditions,” says Conor O’Shea, commentating for RTE.

It’s been a constructive first half for Leinster’s younsters and they’re worth their advantage.

Half-time: Leinster 11-3 Treviso

Hook insists the first half was Treviso’s. Must have been a moral victory then?

Second 40 minutes begin with Leinster playing from right to left and into the breeze.

A stern Leinster defence, and in particular Shane Jennings, hold Treviso on the line. Scrum comes out to Ezio Galn, but he’s knocked on.

38 metres out, Di Bernardo is again off target with a penalty. He should really have got three more points on the board with what looked like a routine kick.

Leinster 14-3 Treviso

Nacewa makes no mistake shooting into the wind and Leinster are edging out of sight here.

Leinster 14-8 Treviso

I spoke too soon. A lapse in concentration sees Matteo Muccignat with the try after Nathan White shows his inexperience.  Conversion is narrowly wide.

Jamie Hagan and Rhys Ruddock enter the fray as the first chants of ‘Leinster, Leinster, Leinster’ ring out around the RDS.

Di Bernardo steps over the line as he clears and it’s a scrum to Leinster. Penalty given and they have another go. It’s turned over and Di Bernardo gets it away at the second time of asking.

Leinster come forward and Fionn Carr breaks past a couple of opponents. This looks promising…

Leinster 21-8 Treviso

Carr’s run results in a try for Richardt Strauss and Nacewa adds two more. Dave Kearney is then introduced for Carr, who will be pleased with his final contribution.

Leinster 28-8 Treviso

Kearney’s first meaningful involvement ends in a try. The substitute exchanges passes with Nacewa and the New Zealander goes over before another excellent conversion.

Joe Schmidt will be pleased with what he is watching. The coach obviously feels that this game is over in terms of the result and empties the bench – Noel Reid, John Cooney and Tom Sexton are all on.

Leinster 35-8 Treviso

Nacewa has been a class apart tonight. The full-back adds another two points to his tally after putting substitute scrum-half John Kearney clear to score.

Roar of the night deservedly kept for Nacewa, who is a clear winner of the man of the match award. He is withdrawn with five minutes remaining and Carr comes back on.

I doubt she’s the only one…

Leinster 42-8 Treviso

Madigan picks out Carr with a cross-field kick and he skips by the last man to score on the stroke of full-time. Madigan is successful with his conversion and that’s the last action of a thoroughly enjoyable night for Leinster fans.

“We had a really young side out but, after a few errors, got it together. Every time you put on this jersey you’ve got a standard to uphold and everyone loves playing at the RDS – whatever the occasion,” Nacewa upon receiving the man of the match award.

Elsewhere, Glasgow have beaten Scarlets 19-9 at Firhill.

So bonus point in the bag, still top of the table and another opportunity to blood a bunch of your young prospects in a European fixture. Not bad for a miserable Thursday night  in Dublin then, eh?

Right, I’m off but make sure to check back in tomorrow night as Sean will be liveblogging on Ulster’s meeting with the Newport Gwen Dragons at Ravenhill.