Sitting second in their respective Conferences, Munster and Leinster meet in a mouth-watering St. Stephen’s Day duel in Limerick as both provinces look to end the calendar year on a high.
GUINNESS PRO14: Tuesday, December 26
MUNSTER (2nd, Con A) v LEINSTER (2nd, Con B), Thomond Park, 3.15pm (live TG4/Sky Sports Action)
Team News: Head coach Johann van Graan has made four changes to the team that defeated Leicester Tigers last time out, as they prepare to host Leinster in the sold-out interprovincial derby at Thomond Park this afternoon.
Returning to the side are Rhys Marshall and Andrew Conway with both players successfully completing their return-to-play protocols. Keith Earls and Tommy O’Donnell are also named to start for the first time since the round 7 trip to Connacht.
In the back-three, Earls takes the place of Alex Wootton on the left wing while Conway replaces Simon Zebo at full-back, joining Corkman Darren Sweetnam who once again retains the number 14 jersey.
The centre paring of Rory Scannell and Sam Arnold, along with the half-backs of Ian Keatley, the 20-point hero against Leicester at Welford Road, and Conor Murray, are unchanged for the first of Munster’s three festive derby outings.
Tipperary man O’Donnell completes an all-Ireland international back row that includes CJ Stander – Munster’s try scorer away to Leicester – and captain Peter O’Mahony who becomes the latest player to make 100 appearances for the province.
Jean Kleyn and Billy Holland, who is set for his 15th successive start of the current season, continue their second row partnership as Marshall joins the unchanged props of Dave Kicoyne and Stephen Archer in the front row.
Named in the replacements is Ireland-capped loosehead James Cronin who returns from a calf injury he sustained while playing for the Barbarians against Tonga at Thomond Park last month.
With additional seating put in place and an increased capacity of 26,267, all tickets have now been sold for the Munster v Leinster PRO14 encounter which has also been nominated as Munster’s official ‘charity match’ in aid of Munster’s charity partner, the Irish Heart Foundation. €;1 from each match programme sold on St. Stephen’s Day will be donated to the charity.
Meanwhile, Leinster Academy back Jordan Larmour will make his first senior start against Munster from full-back, with Barry Daly returning from ankle injury to take his place on the right wing. New Zealander James Lowe is set for his second appearance in blue after his two-try debut in Treviso a few weeks ago.
Robbie Henshaw and Rory O’Loughlin are selected in the centre together for the second time this season, following on from October’s first fixture against Munster in which O’Loughlin scored two tries. Ross Byrne and Jamison Gibson-Park are the half backs for the round 11 duel.
Prop Jack McGrath will captain his native province for the first time. The St. Mary’s College clubman, who has played 121 times for Leinster and 42 times for Ireland, is joined in the front row by fellow internationals James Tracy and Michael Bent.
Devin Toner and James Ryan will start together in the second row, with the back row unit of Jordi Murphy, Dan Leavy and Jack Conan completing the pack. Ryan and Leavy are rewarded with starting berths after both making a big impact in the second half against Exeter Chiefs last time out.
MUNSTER: Andrew Conway; Darren Sweetnam, Sam Arnold, Rory Scannell, Keith Earls; Ian Keatley, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Rhys Marshall, Stephen Archer, Jean Kleyn, Billy Holland, Peter O’Mahony (capt), Tommy O’Donnell, CJ Stander.
Replacements: Niall Scannell, James Cronin, John Ryan, Darren O’Shea, Jack O’Donoghue, Duncan Williams, JJ Hanrahan, Simon Zebo.
LEINSTER: Jordan Larmour; Barry Daly, Rory O’Loughlin, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe; Ross Byrne, Jamison Gibson-Park; Jack McGrath (capt), James Tracy, Michael Bent, Devin Toner, James Ryan, Jordi Murphy, Dan Leavy, Jack Conan.
Replacements: Richardt Strauss, Ed Byrne, Tadhg Furlong, Mick Kearney, Josh van der Flier, Nick McCarthy, Cathal Marsh, Noel Reid.
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Sean Gallagher, Stuart Gaffikin (both Ireland)
Television Match Official: Simon McDowell (Ireland)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Munster to win: 2/5; Draw: 16/1; Leinster to win: 9/4
Pre-Match Quotes: Keith Earls (Munster) – “(The provinces playing so well in Europe) is brilliant. It just shows where Irish Rugby is at, at the moment, and the competition within squads and international camp is phenomenal and credit to all coaches and the teams, it’s been brilliant.
“These are three massive games, Leinster on St. Stephen’s Day is going to be huge. It’s my second time this year coming back from injury having to player Leinster. You feel it after it.
“It’s the closest thing you can get to a European game and sometimes even closer to an international so that’s going to be a massive challenge and I’ll just focus on that and focus on myself and hopefully then the weeks coming will lead to good things.
“Knowing their personalities and who they are, I’d like to think that Pete (O’Mahony) and CJ (Stander) wouldn’t have left. I always stay positive but you just don’t know what’s going on in people’s heads or with their families or what’s going on behind the doors for them to make a decision if they wanted to leave. I think where Irish Rugby is now, at the moment, it’s quite good to stay.”
Jordan Larmour (Leinster) – “This is my first proper year playing at full-back. I played two games there in the Under-20 Six Nations. It went well enough from there. All through school I was playing in the centre, even at 10 sometimes.
“It was a very special moment for me (scoring against Ulster in Belfast). It did give my confidence a bit of a boost I suppose. I just backed myself. It was probably the first time I backed myself in a game for Leinster, just went for it.
“It was very special for me and my family because it was the first big try I scored for Leinster. I grew up watching Leinster and always wanted to play for Leinster. I kinda got off to a slow start, I suppose. I didn’t show too much in the first few games.
“Then I got a few more chances off the bench and I showed what I could do. I still think I’ve a lot more to show. Getting a chance to play against Munster (in a festive derby) is great for me and my family – we all grew up supporting Leinster, going to all the games.
“The memory that stands out to me was in the Heineken Cup (in 2009) when Brian O’Driscoll got the interception from (Ronan) O’Gara. I was there with my friends, and when I saw that I knew that’s what I wanted to do.”
Top Scorers – 2017/18 GUINNESS PRO14: Munster – Points: Ian Keatley 51; Tries: Alex Wootton 7; Leinster – Points: Ross Byrne 74; Tries: Rory O’Loughlin 5
2017/18 TEAM FORM: Munster – Played 10, Won 7, Lost 3, 36 Points; W 34-3 v Benetton Rugby (home), W 51-18 v Toyota Cheetahs (home), W 21-16 v Ospreys (away), L 37-10 v Glasgow Warriors (away), W 39-16 v Cardiff Blues (home), L 23-17 v Leinster (away), L 20-16 v Connacht (away), W 49-6 v Dragons (home), W 36-19 v Zebre (away), W 36-10 v Ospreys (home); Leinster – Played 10, Won 8, Lost 2, 37 Points; W 39-16 v Dragons (away), W 37-9 v Cardiff Blues (home), W 31-10 v Southern Kings (away), L 38-19 v Toyota Cheetahs (away), W 21-13 v Edinburgh (home), W 23-17 v Munster (home), W 25-10 v Ulster (away), L 31-21 v Glasgow Warriors (away), W 54-10 v Dragons (home), W 36-10 v Benetton Rugby (away)
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Friday, December 26, 2014 – Munster 28 Leinster 13, Thomond Park
Sunday, December 27, 2015 – Munster 7 Leinster 24, Thomond Park
Saturday, April 2, 2016 – Leinster 16 Munster 13, Aviva Stadium
Saturday, October 8, 2016 – Leinster 25 Munster 14, Aviva Stadium
Monday, December 26, 2016 – Munster 29 Leinster 17, Thomond Park
Saturday, October 7, 2017 – Leinster 23 Munster 17, Aviva Stadium
MATCH FACTS:
– Munster have won their last five matches in all competitions since Connacht beat them in Galway in round 7 of the GUINNESS PRO14
– The Munstermen have won their last twelve home games (at their two home venues) in all tournaments since the Scarlets’ 30-21 win at Thomond Park last February
– Munster have lost both matches they have played against fellow Irish provinces this season
– Leinster’s only defeat in their last ten matches in all competitions was 31-21 at Glasgow in round 8 of the PRO14
– The Leinstermen have lost only once to a fellow province in the last twelve months: 17-13 against
Ulster in Belfast in round 22 last season
– Munster’s 29-17 victory at Thomond Park on St. Stephen’s Day last year is their only success against Leinster since December 26, 2014
– The two rivals have played each other on 153 occasions since they first locked horns in 1876: the overall tally is now 94 wins to Leinster, 48 to Munster and 11 games drawn
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