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RG Snyman joins 13 Lions in loaded Leinster squad for Munster clash
By Josh Raisey
Seven more British & Irish Lions will make their first appearance of the season on Saturday when Leinster face Munster at Croke Park in the United Rugby Championship.
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The visitors have recalled their only Lions representative, Tadhg Beirne, who has come back in to captain the side against their bitter rivals.
Leinster, meanwhile, have also recalled their stand-in captain Jack Conan. He will be joined by fellow Lions Garry Ringrose, Jamison Gibson-Park and James Ryan in the starting XV, while Andrew Porter and Dan Sheehan will mark their returns from the bench.
Leo Cullen introduced Josh van der Flier, Tadhg Furlong, Rónan Kelleher, James Lowe and Jamie Osborne back into the fray last week as they registered their first victory of the season against the Sharks. Thomas Clarkson, who was called up to the Lions squad midway through the tour, also started against the Bulls in round two.
With Hugo Keenan and Joe McCarthy out injured, this selection means Leinster have called up every available 2025 Lions tourist for this clash. With 2017 and 2021 tourist Robbie Henshaw also starting at inside centre, there will be a total of 13 Lions in the Leinster squad.
Leinster will also be boosted by the return of Springbok RG Snyman, who has returned following South Africa’s triumphant Rugby Championship campaign.
The towering Springbok will partner Ryan in the second-row against his former side.
Munster enter round four of the URC as one of only two undefeated sides, and sit second in the table behind the Stormers, who handed Leinster a 35-0 shellacking in round one.
The reigning champions currently sit eight places below their rivals in tenth with only one win to their name. However, the squads named thus far by Cullen and Jacques Nienaber have been a shadow of the side that will welcome their rivals on Saturday evening.
Leinster XV: Jamie Osborne; Tommy O’Brien, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Paddy McCarthy, Rónan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong, RG Snyman, James Ryan, Alex Soroka, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan (capt).
Replacements: Dan Sheehan, Andrew Porter, Thomas Clarkson, Brian Deeny, Max Deegan, Scott Penny, Fintan Gunne, Ciarán Frawley.
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Munster XV: Shane Daly; Andrew Smith, Tom Farrell, Dan Kelly, Thaakir Abrahams; Jack Crowley, Ethan Coughlan; Michael Milne, Diarmuid Barron, John Ryan, Edwin Edogbo, Fineen Wycherley, Tadhg Beirne (capt), Jack O’Donoghue, Brian Gleeson.
Replacements: Lee Barron, Jeremy Loughman, Ronan Foxe, Jean Kleyn, Gavin Coombes, Paddy Patterson, JJ Hanrahan, Alex Nankivell.