1
Munster v Leinster - One of rugby's fiercest rivalries
Munster will host Leinster this afternoon in the St.Stephen’s Day clash at Thomond Park, with both teams lying in second place in their respective Pro14 conferences.
ADVERTISEMENT
The two Irish provinces have played a total of 94 times, with Leinster holding the edge with 47 wins to Munster’s 42 and 5 draws. Leinster also have the better of recent encounters, winning 4 of the last five clashes.
The game will see some exciting new talent line out alongside several internationals and British & Irish Lions.
In the backline, the electric Jordan Larmour will start at fullback for Leinster, with James Lowe and Barry Daly completing the back three. Munster have opted for Andrew Conway at Fullback, with Irish internationals Sweetnam and Earls on either wing.
21-year-old Sammy Arnold will line out at 13 for Munster opposite 23-year-old Leinster man Rory O’Loughlin, who is being afforded some game time in his favoured position in the absence of Garry Ringrose. The two relative newcomers will have the more experienced duo of Scannell & Henshaw playing on their inside.
LINE UP: Your 23-man #LeinsterRugby squad to face Munster on St Stephen's Day! #MUNvLEI pic.twitter.com/i9T8RocCY0
— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) December 23, 2017
The number 10 tussle between Keatley & Ross Byrne will have implications beyond tonight’s game. Despite an improved start to the season from Keatley, doubts remain over his kicking, game management and overall ability at international level. With Sexton suffering another concussion and Jackson currently standing trial, Joe Schmidt will be looking on intently as the two outhalves look to stake a claim for a place in the Irish Six Nations squad.
Munster look to have an edge in the pack, with a backrow consisting of two Lions in Stander and O’Mahony alongside Tommy O’Donnell. Leinster meanwhile have called on Jack McGrath to lead the squad, with James Ryan, Dan Leavey and Jack Conan all looking to continue their impressive starts to the season.
ADVERTISEMENT
Team Named | Captain @peterom6 on ?
Rhys Marshall, @TommyoDonnell87 Andrew Conway & @KEITHEARLS87 back to start with @jcronin1990 on bench for a sold-out #MUNvLEI on St Stephen's Day.
Thanks for the fantastic support! ? #ThisIsChristmas #SUAF
>> https://t.co/hkOuS6hTZB pic.twitter.com/uec52opTjk
— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) December 23, 2017
Despite several injuries, tonight’s game highlights the strength in depth of both provinces and the stellar work of their respective academies. With big money offers coming in for Ireland’s top players from abroad, the IRFU will be heartened to see the next generation of players coming through the ranks.
A sold-out Thomond Park should give Munster the advantage, but the Leinster young guns have a confidence and pomp that should see it remain a tight game that may well be decided by some backline magic.
Comments on RugbyPass
Oh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
1 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
56 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
61 Go to comments