MUNSTER and Leinster have named their teams for tomorrow night’s Grand Final of the Magners League. For Munster, David Wallace will win his 200th cap in an unchanged starting XV. While for Leinster, There are three changes in all to the starting XV from last weekend’s Heineken Cup final
Ireland international Fergus McFadden coming in to partner Brian O’Driscoll at centre. Jonathan Sexton – who has now scored 228 points in 18 Leinster appearances so far this season – links up with Eoin Reddan at half-back with Luke Fitzgerald, Shane Horgan and Isa Nacewa again named in the back three. In the pack, Heinke van der Merwe will make his 31stappearance of the season and is one of two forward changes as Shane Jennings comes in to link up with Sean O’Brien and Jamie Heaslip in the back-row. Leo Cullen skippers the team and starts alongside Scotland’s Nathan Hines, while the province can call upon three Ireland internationals off the bench in Cian Healy, Kevin McLaughlin and Devin Toner.
Munster’s match day 23 shows just one change from the squad that saw off Ospreys in the semi final with Johne Murphy named on the bench in place of Simon Zebo. Otherwise it’s as you were for McGahan’s side as they chase a title they last captured in 2009. Wallace, playing in his 17th game of the season becomes just the sixth Munster player to reach the 200thcap mark, having made his debut against Connacht in August 1997 alongside Ronan O’Gara.
Munster: F Jones; D Howlett, D Barnes, L Mafi, K Earls; R O’Gara, C Murray; M Horan, D Varley, J Hayes; D O’Callaghan, P O’Connell capt; D Ryan, D Wallace, J Coughlan. Replacements: M Sherry, W du Preez, S Archer, D Leamy, N Ronan, P Stringer, P Warwick, J Murphy.
Leinster: 15: Isa Nacewa, 14: Shane Horgan, 13: Brian O’Driscoll, 12: Fergus McFadden, 11: Luke Fitzgerald, 10: Jonathan Sexton, 9: Eoin Reddan , 1: Heinke van der Merwe
2: Richardt Strauss, 3: Mike Ross, 4: Leo Cullen CAPTAIN, 5: Nathan Hines, 6: Sean O’Brien, 7: Shane Jennings, 8: Jamie Heaslip
REPLACEMENTS: 16: Aaron Dundon, 17: Cian Healy, 18: Stan Wright, 19: Devin Toner, 20: Kevin McLaughlin, 21: Paul O’Donohoe, 22: Ian Madigan, 23: Eoin O’Malley
REFEREE: Nigel Owens (WRU)
