Garryowen’s Conor Murray will start at nine for Munster tomorrow night as the Red Army make three changes from the side that beat Cardiff, to face Leinster. The backline remains unchanged as does the front row but not surprisingly, Donncha O’Callaghan returns to partner Paul O’Connell in the second row.
Nor is there any surprise that the bang-in form David Wallace is chosen at open side. However, the choice of Donnacha Ryan at number six might not have been anticipated although the Tipperary man has impressed this season. Felix Jones is preferred to Paul Warwick at 15, while Johne Murphy and Lifeimi Mafi will make up the centre partnership. Indeed the Munster bench looks as strong as the side itself. Horan, Hayes, O’Driscoll,Leamy,Stringer and Tuitupou are all seasoned internationals, while Mike Sherry has been pushing hard for the number two jersey all season.
Kick off at Thomond Park is at 7.30pm.
Munster: F Jones; D Howlett, J Murphy, L Mafi, K Earls; R O’Gara, C Murray; W du Preez, D Varley, T Buckley; D O’Callaghan, P O’Connell capt; D Ryan, D Wallace, J Coughlan. Replacements: M Sherry, M Horan, J Hayes, M O’Driscoll, D Leamy, P Stringer, P Warwick, S Tuitupou.
The Leinster side to face Munster has also been named today.
Boyne’s Shane Horgan will make history when he lines out for his home province for the 200th time – in doing so he becomes the first Leinster player to reach the milestone. Horgan continues in the back three alongside Luke Fitzgerald and Isa Nacewa who both started last weekend’s 26-26 victory over the Dragons.
Gordon D’Arcy partners Brian O’Driscoll at centre with Isaac Boss – a try scorer in Newport – and Jonathan Sexton continuing their half-back partnership.
In all there are six Ireland internationals in the starting pack with props Cian Healy and Mike Ross returning to the front row and Kevin McLaughlin forming a back-row unit alongside Sean O’Brien and Jamie Heaslip.
Leo Cullen leads the team and partners Scotland’s Nathan Hines at second row.
Internationals Heinke van der Merwe, Stan Wright, Devin Toner, Rhys Ruddock, Eoin Reddan and Fergus McFadden are named amongst a strong replacements bench.
LEINSTER:
15: Isa Nacewa
14: Shane Horgan
13: Brian O’Driscoll
12: Gordon D’Arcy
11: Luke Fitzgerald
10: Jonathan Sexton
9: Isaac Boss
1: Cian Healy
2: Richardt Strauss
3: Mike Ross
4: Leo Cullen CAPTAIN
5: Nathan Hines
6: Kevin McLaughlin
7: Sean O’Brien
8: Jamie Heaslip
REPLACEMENTS:
16: Aaron Dundon
17: Heinke van der Merwe
18: Stan Wright
19: Devin Toner
20: Rhys Ruddock
21: Eoin Reddan
22: Ian Madigan
23: Fergus McFadden
