Both Munster and Leinster have named their teams for their St. Stephen’s Day game on Tuesday. Leinster head to Thomond Park, looking to build on last month's Aviva Stadium win.
However, Munster will be confident of beating Leinster after their semi-final win in the URC semi-final last year.
Unfortunately, tickets have been sold out for the event on Tuesday
Kick-off is at 7:35 p.m. and can be seen live on RTÉ2 and Premier Sports 1.
Here's team news for both teams.
Munster vs. Leinster takes place next week (Photo By Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)Munster team news
Four changes and a positional switch are the alterations to the team that faced the Exeter Chiefs in the Champions Cup.
Tighthead prop Oli Jager earns his first start, Dave Kilcoyne makes his campaign debut alongside him, and Academy lock Edwin Edogbo returns from injury for his seventh start of the season.
Simon Zebo starts at full-back, shifting Shane Daly to the left wing, while Calvin Nash and Alex Nankivell partner in the midfield. The scrumhalf and out-half positions are held by Craig Casey and Jack Crowley, respectively.
Diarmuid Barron leads the side as hooker, joined by Kilcoyne and Jager in the front row, while Edogbo and Gavin Coombes pair up in the second row.
The back row of Tom Ahern, John Hodnett, and Jack O’Donoghue stays unchanged.
Speaking ahead of the game, Munster's Casey said, "They've been frustrating at Thomond Park. I think we have to keep playing our game; we've shown over the last few games with Leinster that we can go toe-to-toe with them.
"They won the last game, and we won the game before that. I think in the last game against them, we were fairly close in the Aviva and probably didn't take a few chances. We gave them a few chances that they were clinical at.
"It's a huge occasion; it always has been and always will be. Stephen's Day in Thomond Park is special; you always know Leinster is coming down the road trying to get a scalp. It's a huge occasion for us, and we're looking forward to it. It's a big one for us to try to get a win."
📢 TEAM NEWS | Here is your Munster side for the sold-out #URC St Stephen's Day Interpro derby against Leinster at Thomond Park 💪
Click the pic for full details.#MUNvLEI #SUAF 🔴— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) December 22, 2023
Munster Starting XV:
Backs
Simon Zebo (Full-back)
Calvin Nash (Right Wing) and Shane Daly (Left Wing)
Antoine Frisch (Centre) Alex Nankivell (Centre)
Jack Crowley (Out-half) Craig Casey (Scrumhalf)
Forwards
Dave Kilcoyne (Prop), Diarmuid Barron (Hooker, Captain), Oli Jager (Tighthead Prop)
Edwin Edogbo (Lock), Gavin Coombes (Lock)
Tom Ahern (Flanker), John Hodnett (Flanker), and Jack O’Donoghue (Number Eight)
Substitutes: 16. Eoghan Clarke (Front Row)
- Jeremy Loughman (Front Row)
- Stephen Archer (Front Row)
- Brian Gleeson (Back-row)
- Alex Kendellen (Back-row)
- Paddy Patterson (Scrumhalf)
- Tony Butler (Out-half)
- Seán O’Brien (Backline)
Leinster team news
Garry Ringrose leads the team in a lineup featuring seven players from last month's victorious clash at Aviva Stadium.
The back three include Hugo Keenan, Jordan Larmour, and Rob Russell.
Ringrose partners with Ciarán Frawley in the centre, while Harry Byrne joins Jamison Gibson-Park in the half-backs.
The pack of Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher, and Michael Ala’alatoa starts in the front row. Ross Molony and Joe McCarthy get the nod in the second row.
Max Deegan, Scott Penny, and Jack Conan complete the pack for the St. Stephen’s Day clash in Limerick.
Speaking ahead of the game, Head Coach Leo Cullen said it’ll be a tough battle in Thomond Park.
“We only played Munster a few weeks ago. They started that game well, and we had to claw our way back. We will have to be more accurate. We will have to start the game better, too.
“We will need to be able to deal with the conditions and the emotional pitch of the game too. There will be a big, passionate crowd. It’ll be an exciting fixture.”
Leinster Starting XV
Backs
Hugo Keenan (Fullback)
Jordan Larmour (Right Wing) Rob Russell (Left Wing)
Garry Ringrose (Captain, Outside Centre), Ciarán Frawley (Inside Centre)
Harry Byrne (Fly-half), Jamison Gibson-Park (scrum-half)
Forwards:
Andrew Porter (Loosehead Prop), Rónan Kelleher (Hooker), and Michael Ala’alatoa (Tighthead Prop)
Ross Molony (Lock), Joe McCarthy (Lock)
Max Deegan (Blindside Flanker), Scott Penny (Openside Flanker), and Jack Conan (Number Eight)
Replacements:
- Dan Sheehan
- Ed Byrne
- Thomas Clarkson
- Jason Jenkins
- Ryan Baird
- Luke McGrath
- Liam Turner
- Will Connors
📥 | 𝐒𝐞𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐭. 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐧'𝐬 𝐃𝐚𝐲!
Here is the #LeinsterRugby team to face Munster on Tuesday evening in Thomond Park in the #BKTURC#MUNvLEI #FromTheGroundUp pic.twitter.com/9w3pV0584D— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) December 22, 2023
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