THE PRO14 BOOTROOM
MUNSTER v LEINSTER
Thomond Park, 7.35pm TEAM NEWS: CJ Stander is set to make his 150th appearance for Munster with the No8 starting in a strong back row alongside Peter O’Mahony and Gavin Coombes. New Zealand-born hooker Rhys Marshall packs down at hooker as Niall Scannell settles for a spot on the bench. Meanwhile, Garry Ringrose has recovered from a jaw injury and is named in midfield alongside Robbie Henshaw while Jimmy O’Brien starts on the left wing. Seán Cronin gets the nod ahead of Ronan Kelleher at hooker. LAST MEETING SEP 2020: Leinster 13 Munster 3 VERDICT: Munster. WHY? The home side are in a rich vein of form and have the power up front to make a big statement on their home patch tonight.
MUNSTER: M Haley; K Earls, C Farrell, D de Allende, S Daly; JJ Hanrahan, C Murray; J Cronin, R Marshall, J Ryan; J Kleyn, T Beirne; G Coombes, P O’Mahony (capt), CJ Stander. Reps: N Scannell, D Kilcoyne, S Archer, F Wycherley, J O’Donoghue, C Casey, B Healy, R Scannell.
LEINSTER: H Keenan; J Larmour, G Ringrose, R Henshaw, J O’Brien; J Sexton (capt), L McGrath; C Healy, S Cronin, A Porter; S Fardy, J Ryan; R Ruddock, W Connors, C Doris. Reps: R Kelleher, E Byrne, T Clarkson, R Molony, J Conan, J Gibson-Park, R Byrne, J van der Flier. Referee: A Brace (Ireland). TV: LIVE on eir Sport from 6.30pm/ deferred coverage on TG4 at 9.30pm
KEY STAT
Leinster have won their last four encounters with Munster. The Reds’ last victory was a 2617 win in Limerick in late 2018.