Magners League: Grand Final Preview

Munster’s grand final opponents, Leinster, saw off the interprovincial challenge of Ulster with an 18-3 semi-final victory at the RDS to set up their second consecutive appearance in the league decider.

Despite Munster’s impressive record in the Magners League this season, winning the title is not a forgone conclusion – the inaugural Magners League grand final was won by second seeds, the Ospreys, and when you include the English and French tournaments which have long been decided in this manner, in 15 previous finals the top seeds has won just six.

Add to that mix the fact that Leinster will be looking to create a unique Celtic double of winning both the domestic and European titles for the first time, and the age-old rivalry that an Irish interprovincial match always brings out, there is all to play for at a sold-out Thomond Park.

MAGNERS LEAGUE GRAND FINAL: Saturday, May 28

MUNSTER v LEINSTER, Thomond Park, 5.05pm (live RTE 2/TG4/BBC ALBA/BBC 2 Wales)

MUNSTER v LEINSTER – 2010/11 MEETINGS –

MAGNERS LEAGUE – ROUND 5
October 2, 2010

LEINSTER 13 MUNSTER 9, Aviva Stadium (Att: 50,645)

LEINSTER: Rob Kearney; Shane Horgan (Jonathan Sexton 56), Brian O’Driscoll(1T), Gordon D’Arcy, Luke Fitzgerald; Isa Nacewa(1C, 2PG), Isaac Boss (Eoin Reddan 56); Cian Healy (Heinke van der Merwe 61), Richardt Strauss, Mike Ross (Simon Shawe 77), Nathan Hines, Devin Toner, Dominic Ryan, Sean O’Brien, Jamie Heaslip (capt) (Rhys Ruddock 77).

Replacements: Jason Harris-Wright, Heinke van der Merwe, Simon Shawe, Mariano Galarza, Rhys Ruddock, Eoin Reddan, Jonathan Sexton, Fergus McFadden.

MUNSTER: Paul Warwick; Doug Howlett, Lifeimi Mafi (sin-bin 44-54), Sam Tuitupou, Johne Murphy; Ronan O’Gara(3PG), Tomas O’Leary; Wian du Preez (Marcus Horan 64), Damien Varley, John Hayes, Donncha O’Callaghan, Donnacha Ryan (Mick O’Driscoll 64), Alan Quinlan (David Wallace 56), Niall Ronan, Denis Leamy (capt).

Replacements: Sean Henry, Marcus Horan, Darragh Hurley, Mick O’Driscoll, David Wallace, Peter Stringer, Scott Deasy, Denis Hurley.

Scoring Sequence: 4′ O’Gara (PG) 0-3, 24′ Nacewa (PG) 3-3, 49′ O’Gara (PG) 3-6, 55′ Nacewa (PG) 6-6, 57′ O’Gara (PG) 6-9, 70′ O’Driscoll (T) 11-9, Nacewa (C) 13-9

Referee: Jerome Garces (France)

MAGNERS LEAGUE – ROUND 19
April 2, 2011

MUNSTER 24 LEINSTER 23, Thomond Park (Att: 25,923)

MUNSTER: Felix Jones (Paul Warwick 76)(1PG); Doug Howlett, Johne Murphy (sin-bin 35-45) (Sam Tuitupou 62), Lifeimi Mafi, Keith Earls; Ronan O’Gara(7PG) (Paul Warwick 41-45, blood sub)(1PG), Conor Murray (Peter Stringer 66); Wian du Preez (Marcus Horan 66), Damien Varley (Mike Sherry 76), Tony Buckley (John Hayes 66), Donncha O’Callaghan, Paul O’Connell (capt) (Mick O’Driscoll 46), Donnacha Ryan (Denis Leamy 53), David Wallace, James Coughlan.

Replacements: Mike Sherry, Marcus Horan, John Hayes, Mick O’Driscoll, Denis Leamy, Peter Stringer, Paul Warwick, Sam Tuitupou.

LEINSTER: Isa Nacewa; Shane Horgan(1T) (Fergus McFadden 66), Brian O’Driscoll (sin-bin 61-71), Gordon D’Arcy, Luke Fitzgerald; Jonathan Sexton(6PG), Isaac Boss (Eoin Reddan 58); Cian Healy (Heinke van der Merwe 56), Richardt Strauss, Mike Ross, Leo Cullen (capt), Nathan Hines, Kevin McLaughlin (Rhys Ruddock 62), Sean O’Brien, Jamie Heaslip.

Replacements: Aaron Dundon, Heinke van der Merwe, Stan Wright, Devin Toner, Rhys Ruddock, Eoin Reddan, Ian Madigan, Fergus McFadden.

Scoring Sequence: 5′ O’Gara (PG) 3-0, 7′ Sexton (PG) 3-3, 12′ O’Gara (PG) 6-3, 14′ Sexton (PG) 6-6, 19′ Sexton (PG) 6-9, 21′ Horgan (T) 6-14, 26′ O’Gara (PG) 9-14, 36′ Sexton (PG) 9-17, 39′ Sexton (PG) 9-20, 45′ Warwick (PG) 12-20, 48′ O’Gara (PG) 15-20, 53′ O’Gara (PG) 18-20, 62′ O’Gara (PG) 21-20, 66′ Sexton (PG) 21-23, 80′ O’Gara (PG) 24-23

Referee: Andrew Small (England)