Munster and Leinster will both be aiming to put a poor run of recent results behind them when they clash in what is set to be a fiercely-contested festive battle under the Thomond Park floodlights.
GUINNESS PRO12: Sunday, December 27
MUNSTER (3rd) v LEINSTER (4th), Thomond Park, 5.15pm (live Sky Sports 4 HD/TG4)
Team News: Munster head coach Anthony Foley has made four changes for Sunday’s GUINNESS PRO12 derby encounter with Leinster at Thomond Park. The province are boosted by the return of Tommy O’Donnell who is listed among the replacements.
After sustaining a traumatic injury in the form of a hip dislocation during Ireland’s Rugby World Cup warm-up game against Wales in August, O’Donnell makes an earlier than expected return to the matchday squad this weekend thanks to the efforts of Munster’s medical and fitness staff, and the player’s exceptional commitment to his rehabilitation programme.
After successfully completing his return-to-play protocols for concussion, BJ Botha also returns this week and starts next to Mike Sherry and James Cronin in the front row.
Donnacha Ryan is back in the second row after last week’s late withdrawal in Leicester due to illness, joining fellow Tipperary lock Dave Foley. The final change in the forwards sees Jack O’Donoghue selected at openside flanker alongside blindside Robin Copeland and number 8 captain CJ Stander.
There is only one change to the back-line with Tyler Bleyendaal making his second start for the province in the number 10 jersey. The New Zealander will link up with Conor Murray at half-back.
The centre pairing of Denis Hurley and Francis Saili, and the back-three of Simon Zebo, Keith Earls and Andrew Conway, all remain in place.
On the injury front, Dave O’Callaghan met with the specialist yesterday for an adductor injury and it has been confirmed that the young back rower will be sidelined for approximately six weeks.
Over 22,000 tickets have been sold at this stage for the Munster v Leinster clash – tickets are available to buy online here.
Tickets will also be available to purchase from the stadium on Sunday, from midday at the Ticketmaster van in the Fan Zone Plaza, and from 3.15pm at the West Stand ticket booth. Ticket prices start from €;20 for adults, €;60 for families or €;10 for students and juniors.
The round 10 match is Munster’s annual Charity Match, with the men in red supporting their official charities for the season – Children’s Medical & Research Foundation Crumlin and HEADWAY. One euro from every match programme sold will be donated to the charities, so your support is greatly welcome. The charities will also be presented with signed Munster jerseys at half-time by members of the squad.
Full matchday info and travel information including Irish Rail details, please click here.
Meanwhile, the round 10 game will mark a special moment for Ireland international Sean Cronin who will earn his 100th Leinster cap against his home province.
The Limerick man made two appearances for Munster before moving to Connacht where he made 65 appearances before moving to Leinster and making his debut in October 2011 against Edinburgh. He has scored 15 tries in his 99 games to date for Leinster.
Elsewhere, Nick McCarthy is in line to make his first league appearance for Leinster having come off the bench for his debut in last weekend’s European Champions Cup defeat to Toulon.
Zane Kirchner starts at full-back with Fergus McFadden recovering from a calf strain to take his place on the right wing and Isa Nacewa captaining the side from the left.
Luke Fitzgerald partners Garry Ringrose in the centre for the first time with Ringrose making only his second start in the number 13 jersey. Ian Madigan starts at out-half with Eoin Reddan getting the nod at scrum half.
Jack McGrath, Cronin and Tadhg Furlong start in the front row with Devin Toner and Tom Denton in the second row, while Dominic Ryan starts at blindside flanker, Jamie Heaslip continues at number 8 and Sean O’Brien making a welcome return from injury at openside.
For those Leinster supporters looking to travel to Thomond Park, there are only a few seats left on the same day bus service to Limerick organised by the OLSC. For anyone interested, please contact OLSC@leinsterrugby.ie for the Aircoach service that will leave Dublin city centre on Sunday afternoon and returns half an hour after the final whistle in Thomond Park.
MUNSTER: Andrew Conway; Keith Earls, Francis Saili, Denis Hurley, Simon Zebo; Tyler Bleyendaal, Conor Murray; James Cronin, Mike Sherry, BJ Botha, Dave Foley, Donnacha Ryan, Robin Copeland, Jack O’Donoghue, CJ Stander (capt).
Replacements: Niall Scannell, Dave Kilcoyne, John Ryan, Billy Holland, Tommy O’Donnell, Tomas O’Leary, Rory Scannell, Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino.
LEINSTER: Zane Kirchner; Fergus McFadden, Garry Ringrose, Luke Fitzgerald, Isa Nacewa (capt); Ian Madigan, Eoin Reddan; Jack McGrath, Sean Cronin, Tadhg Furlong, Devin Toner, Tom Denton, Dominic Ryan, Sean O’Brien, Jamie Heaslip.
Replacements: James Tracy, Cian Healy, Martin Moore, Ross Molony, Josh van der Flier, Nick McCarthy, Cathal Marsh, Dave Kearney.
Referee: David Wilkinson (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Sean Gallagher, Stuart Gaffikin (both Ireland)
Television Match Official: Simon McDowell (Ireland)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Munster to win: 4/9; Draw: 17/1; Leinster to win: 9/5
Pre-Match Quotes: Simon Zebo (Munster) – “Both teams need to get some winning momentum. We’re on the back of a couple of losses. It’s not easy to take on both sides. We’d set higher standards than that, so hopefully we’ll get the win this weekend because we need it and we’ve been showing some great signs of attacking play.
“People have been criticising us but I think we’re one pass or one offload away from being a team apart. I think it’s going to click sometime very soon, and hopefully it can be this weekend.
“I suppose it is unprecedented territory for us. Four successive losses for Munster is pretty much unacceptable – it’s unheard of. We need to get the pride back in the jersey and there’s no better fixture to do it than against the boys from Leinster.
“Munster-Leinster is one of the biggest rivalries in rugby. Collectively, obviously, when we’re in Irish camp we’re all like brothers and friends but it’s the polar opposite when we’re with our provinces. I think the win is massively important to each side. To lose to them in Thomond Park would be unacceptable.”
Josh van der Flier (Leinster) – “I’ve played Munster at Under-20s, Under-19s, but never at this level. They’re great games to be involved in. I was lucky to be involved in a provincial game against Ulster (already this season). It’s a great spectacle and I’m looking forward to playing at Thomond Park, hopefully.
“Both teams are going to be very fired up. Both Munster and ourselves are obviously very disappointed with the results over the last couple of weeks. It’s going to be quite a contest.
“We both have a point to prove, both to the fans and to ourselves. We probably felt we weren’t good enough the week before (against Toulon), and then last weekend a good first half and not quite good enough second half. Both of us have a point to prove so it will be quite a battle.
“Everyone’s just really fired up to get back performing well, to get a win under our belts, to get back to winning ways. We haven’t really put together an 80-minute performance in a few weeks. That’s the main focus. Everyone’s very motivated.”
Top Scorers – 2015/16 GUINNESS PRO12: Munster – Points: Ian Keatley 75; Tries: CJ Stander, Andrew Conway 3 each; Leinster – Points: Isa Nacewa 44; Tries: Isa Nacewa 4
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Saturday, October 6, 2012 – Leinster 30 Munster 21, Aviva Stadium
Saturday, April 13, 2013 – Munster 16 Leinster 22, Thomond Park
Sunday, October 5, 2013 – Munster 19 Leinster 15, Thomond Park
Saturday, March 29, 2014 – Munster 22 Leinster 18, Aviva Stadium
Saturday, October 4, 2014 – Leinster 23 Munster 34, Aviva Stadium
Friday, December 26, 2014 – Munster 28 Leinster 13, Thomond Park
MATCH FACTS:
– Munster have lost their last two matches in the GUINNESS PRO12 since beating Edinburgh at Murrayfield on November 7
– The Munstermen’s home loss to Connacht in round 8 ended a seven-match winning run in the PRO12 at Thomond Park
– Leinster lie in fourth spot in the PRO12 table, and in accumulating 27 league points from their first eight games have made their best ever start to a PRO12 campaign
– Their only defeat in the last seven rounds came on a trip to the Scarlets in October
– The Leinstermen lost all three away games at fellow Irish provinces last season, for the first time since the 2003/04 campaign
– Munster achieved a season’s double over Leinster last year, something that has not occurred in the regular season since 2008/09
– Leinster have not been victorious at Thomond Park since April 2013
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