Back 
1
Leinster and Munster name teams for URC showdown in Aviva
By Ian Cameron
Leinster and Munster have both named their teams for their mouth-watering URC showdown this Saturday in the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
ADVERTISEMENT
Barring a pre-season game, it’s the first time that the two sides will meet since Munster dumped Leinster out of running for last season’s URC in a hotly contested semi-final.
Leo Cullen has named pretty much an Ireland XV for the clash, while Munster have made six changes to the side that beat Stormers last weekend.
Robbie Henshaw and Jack Conan are set for their first appearances of the season for Leinster, while Tadhg Furlong is set for this first start of the campaign.
Simon Zebo makes his first appearance of the season for the Munster and his first start at full-back for the men in red since 2018.
Leinster had dominated the fixture over the last five years, but last year’s URC semi-final defeat has breathed new life into the competitiveness of the rivalry.
LEINSTER:
15. Hugo Keenan
14. Jordan Larmour
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Robbie Henshaw
11. Jimmy O’Brien
10. Ross Byrne
9. Jamison Gibson-Park
1. Andrew Porter
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Joe McCarthy
5. James Ryan (C)
6. Jack Conan
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Caelan Doris
ADVERTISEMENT
REPLACEMENTS: 16. Rónan Kelleher, 17. Jack Boyle, 18. Michael Ala’alatoa, 19. Ross Molony, 20. James Culhane, 21. Ben Murphy, 22. Ciarán Frawley, 23. Scott Penny
MUNSTER:
15. Simon Zebo
14. Calvin Nash
13. Antoine Frisch
12. Rory Scannell
11. Shane Daly
10. Jack Crowley
9. Craig Casey
1. Jeremy Loughman
2. Diarmuid Barron (C)
3. Stephen Archer
4. Jean Kleyn
5. Tadhg Beirne
6. Tom Ahern
7. John Hodnett
8. Gavin Coombes
REPLACEMENTS: 16. Scott Buckley, 17. Dave Kilcoyne, 18. John Ryan, 19. Brian Gleeson, 20. Alex Kendellen, 21. Conor Murray, 22. Tony Butler, 23. Shay McCarthy.
Latest Comments
The writer here ignores the fact that, following on from not taking the penalty kick, the All Blacks did manage to score a try a few minutes later. Not directly from the penalty awarded, but it is speculation to say that had they opted to take the koi they would have won. Even if they kicked it, which was no guarantee, they would still be trailing and would have had to start again at half-way.
Go to commentsI would be surprised if Sales Opoku Fordjour and Northampton’s Tommy Freeman are not in the team, Anthony Watson is also one that could go on the wing. One thing I must say is that the front 3 will get destroyed against a team like South Africa.
Go to comments