SELDOM has a clash between these two Irish provinces created so much interest and excitement as Saturday’s URC contest between Munster and Leinster at Croke Park (5.45pm).
The stakes in this early season meeting can hardly be regarded as high but the mouth-watering attraction of playing before 80,000-plus people has caught the attention of the nation.
Munster will move to Dublin on the eve of the fixture, have a walk around Croker and possibly get a chance for their place kickers to test their accuracy.
Memories of 2009, when Leinster last used the venue, come flowing back.
Munster, then holders of the Heineken Cup at the time, failed to get a victory and the game is still remembered for Brian O’Driscoll’s brilliance and a controversial incident at a lineout involving Alan Quinlan and Leo Cullen.
Three players who were involved on that occasion will have roles all these years later: Cian Healy and Leo Cullen with Leinster and Denis Leamy with Munster.
After getting the monkey off their backs with an impressive win over the Ospreys this past weekend, there is bright hope that Munster can win this fixture.
There were many performances to admire in Cork, especially from Shane McCarthy and Bryan Fitzgerald, who was singled out after the game by head coach Graham Rowntree.
“Coming in from the AIL, Bryan has a lot to offer and a turnover on our own line was particularly impressive,” commented the coach.
Ahead of the glamour tie, Rowntree stated: “Soon after I got here, I realised that there is special history between these sides but we will be ready.”
“Against Ospreys we showed accuracy and physicality at key moments. We will need control of the ball; it’s a huge fixture.
“I’m really proud of our performance last weekend and if we can get bodies (Munster have some injury concerns) on the field, we can run Leinster close.”
