Leinster and Munster name two very different sides for URC clash

Irish provincial heavyweights Leinster and Munster have named their teams for the Irish URC derby that will be played out in front of over 43,000 people at the Aviva Stadium this weekend.

Both sides have suffered a spate of injuries in the lead-up. League-leading Leinster are turning out what amounts to a more or less full-strength side given what's available to them for the traditionally heated if at times leaden match-up. Munster on the other hand are fielding a team that is a tad callow across the fifteen.

Leinster will be able to draw on the experience of Robbie Henshaw, Garry Ringrose, Johnny Sexton and Luke Grath across the backline and have named an equally weathered pack of forwards. Ireland mainstays Cian Healy, Tadhg Furlong ad James Ryan start, as do the in-form former Munster lock Jason Jenkins and livewire hooker Dan Sheehan.

Highly rated Ireland prospect Ciarán Frawley comes in at full-back with Ireland rookie Jimmy O'Brien on the wing.

Outside of the Munster's halfback pairing of Joey Carbery and Conor Murray, it's all a bit green for Munster.

Try-scoring sensation Gavin Coombes and South African-born heavyweight Jean Kleyn are maybe the pick of the Munster pack, with up-and-comers Josh Hodnett and Tom Ahern also catching the eye. Jeremy Loughman will also be looking to continue a rich vein of form in the league and against his former side to boot.

In truth, the derby has been a one-sided affair in recent years, with Leinster dominating the rivalry both in Dublin and Limerick. On paper, Graham Rowntree's Munster look very much up against it.

LEINSTER:

15. Ciarán Frawley

14. Jimmy O’Brien

13. Garry Ringrose

12. Robbie Henshaw

11. Jamie Osborne

10. Johnny Sexton CAPTAIN

9. Luke McGrath (

1. Cian Healy

2. Dan Sheehan

3. Tadhg Furlong

4. Jason Jenkins

5. James Ryan

6. Max Deegan

7. Scott Penny

8. Caelan Doris

REPLACEMENTS:

16. John McKee

17. Andrew Porter

18. Michael Ala’alatoa

19. Ross Molony

20. Jack Conan

21. Nick McCarthy

22. Ross Byrne

23. Rob Russell

MUNSTER:

15. Jack Crowley

14. Shane Daly

13. Dan Goggin

12. Rory Scannell

11. Liam Coombes

10. Joey Carbery

9. Conor Murray

1. Jeremy Loughman

2. Diarmuid Barron

3. Keynan Knox

4. Jean Kleyn

5. Tom Ahern

6. Jack O’Donoghue (C)

7. John Hodnett

8. Gavin Coombes.

REPLACEMENTS:

16. Scott Buckley

17. Dave Kilcoyne

18. James French

19. Jack O’Sullivan

20. Ruadhan Quinn

21. Paddy Patterson

22. Ben Healy

24. Patrick Campbell.