Guinness PRO14 Preview: Leinster v Munster

Guinness PRO14 rugby returns with a bang following a wait of over five months and, with an abbreviated finish to the 2019/20 campaign lying ahead, there is plenty at stake in the penultimate round of the regular season.

GUINNESS PRO14: Saturday, August 22

LEINSTER (1st, Con A) v MUNSTER (2nd, Con B), Aviva Stadium, 7.35pm (live eir Sport 1/Premier Sports 1/DAZN/www.pro14.tv/deferred TG4)

Team News: Fit-again Ireland back rower Jack Conan will start for Leinster in Saturday’s eagerly-awaited interprovincial derby, ending a frustratingly injury lay-off.

Conan, who has recovered from the ankle injury he suffered during the 2019 Rugby World Cup, will pack down at number 8 for his 90th provincial appearance.

The Wicklow man is joined in the back row by Caelan Doris, who shifts to blindside flanker for the first time in Leinster colours, and fellow international Josh van der Flier.

For what is Leinster’s first match since late February, 21-year-old rising star Ryan Baird gets his first start in an interpro fixture. He pairs up with Scott Fardy at lock.

Cian Healy, Ronan Kelleher and Andrew Porter form an all-international front row, with 22-year-old hooker Kelleher making his Ireland debut against Scotland in February.

Jonathan Sexton has the captaincy reins for Leinster’s resumption of PRO14 action, combining with Luke McGrath at half-back, while Garry Ringrose and Robbie Henshaw form another familiar pairing in midfield.

Jordan Larmour and James Lowe feature in the back-three along with Dave Kearney, who scored a hat-trick of tries in Leinster’s last outing against Glasgow Warriors to take his PRO14 season’s tally to nine.

Meanwhile, for Munster’s first game in the space of six months, there are debuts from the start for new signings Damian de Allende and RG Snyman – both World Cup winners with South Africa last year.

Cork native Shane Daly makes his fifth start at full-back, in his 18th appearance for the province, with Ireland internationals Andrew Conway and Keith Earls completing an exciting back-three.

De Allende, the former Western Province and Stormers back, links up with Chris Farrell in the centre, with the Reds’ back-line marshalled by JJ Hanrahan, the scorer of 101 PRO14 points this term, and Conor Murray.

Snyman, who signed from Japanese club Honda Heat, packs down with Billy Holland in the engine room, supporting another all-international front row made up of James Cronin, Niall Scannell and Stephen Archer.

Captain Peter O’Mahony, Tommy O’Donnell and CJ Stander join forces in the loose forwards. Munster’s back row ranks are missing Jack O’Donoghue who is unavailable after sustaining a concussion during training this week.

Johann van Graan’s men are set to have a third debutant on the day, as ex-Saracen Matt Gallagher, the 23-year-old son of former All Black John Gallagher, is among their back-line replacement.

LEINSTER: Jordan Larmour; Dave Kearney, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe; Jonathan Sexton (capt), Luke McGrath; Cian Healy, Ronan Kelleher, Andrew Porter, Ryan Baird, Scott Fardy, Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan.

Replacements: Sean Cronin, Ed Byrne, Michael Bent, Devin Toner, Will Connors, Jamison Gibson-Park, Ross Byrne, Max Deegan.

MUNSTER: Shane Daly; Andrew Conway, Chris Farrell, Damian de Allende, Keith Earls; JJ Hanrahan, Conor Murray; James Cronin, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer, RG Snyman, Billy Holland, Peter O’Mahony (capt), Tommy O’Donnell, CJ Stander.

Replacements: Rhys Marshall, Dave Kilcoyne, John Ryan, Jean Kleyn, Chris Cloete, Craig Casey, Rory Scannell, Matt Gallagher.

Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: George Clancy, Joy Neville (both Ireland)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)

Pre-Match Quotes: Luke McGrath (Leinster) –

It’s been a tough time for society, not just for us, there’s been a lot worse out there for a lot of other people. It’s just about bringing that enjoyment into the game and hopefully we can put on a good game for everyone to watch at home.

“The last three weeks (of full squad training) have been hugely positive, training’s been great and everyone’s just looking forward to getting back out there and trying to put in a good performance.

“We do understand that there can and probably will be mistakes but we just have to push forward and keep going until the next moment.

“We’ve put a lot of focus in the last few weeks on the little minor things. For example, the lineout, nines working with the lineout, the eight-nine relationship, working with your 10s, back-field, things like that, that we haven’t done in a long, long time.

“So yeah, there is pressure but it’s so important we take it game by game because, before you know it, we’re into knockout rugby. I think it’s vital we get that cohesion straight away, especially in the first two games.”

Johann van Graan (Munster) –

It was a real squad effort the last nine weeks, everyone gave it their all. Unfortunately, we can only pick 23 players. There were a lot of close calls and that just shows the depth that we’ve created.

“With such a long season coming up, everybody wants to play the first game but there’s a lot of rugby to be played. We said all along that getting back to playing rugby on Saturday night is our sole objective.

“A few of the guys in isolation were very close to getting into the team and they worked really hard but obviously the fact they were in self-isolation ruled them out.

“They are training away at home and as soon as they come out of self-isolation, they will be available for selection again.”

Top Scorers – 2019/20 Guinness PRO14: Leinster – Points: Ross Byrne 69; Tries: Dave Kearney 9; Munster – Points: JJ Hanrahan 101; Tries: Arno Botha 6

2019/20 TEAM FORM: Leinster – Played 13, Won 13; W 32-27 v Benetton Rugby (away), W 53-5 v Ospreys (home), W 40-14 v Edinburgh (home), W 3-0 v Zebre (away), W 50-15 v Dragons (home), W 42-11 v Connacht (away), W 23-10 v Glasgow Warriors (away), W 54-42 v Ulster (home), W 13-6 v Munster (away), W 54-7 v Connacht (home), W 36-12 v Toyota Cheetahs (home), W 21-13 v Ospreys (away), W 55-19 v Glasgow Warriors (home)

Munster – Played 13, Won 9, Lost 4; W 39-9 v Dragons (home), W 31-20 v Isuzu Southern Kings (away), L 40-16 v Toyota Cheetahs (away), W 28-12 v Ospreys (home), W 33-23 v Cardiff Blues (away), W 22-16 v Ulster (home), L 18-16 v Edinburgh (home), W 19-14 v Connacht (away), L 13-6 v Leinster (home), L 38-17 v Ulster (away), W 68-3 v Isuzu Southern Kings (home), W 28-0 v Zebre (away), W 29-10 v Scarlets (home)

RECENT CHAMPIONSHIP MEETINGS:

Tuesday, December 26, 2017 – Munster 24 Leinster 34, Thomond Park
Saturday, May 19, 2018 – Semi-Final: Leinster 16 Munster 15, the RDS
Saturday, October 6, 2018 – Leinster 30 Munster 22, Aviva Stadium
Saturday, December 29, 2018 – Munster 26 Leinster 17, Thomond Park
Saturday, May 18, 2019 – Semi-Final: Leinster 24 Munster 9, the RDS
Saturday, December 28, 2019 – Munster 6 Leinster 13, Thomond Park

MATCH FACTS:

– The last time that Leinster were defeated in the Guinness PRO14 was by a single point in 27 to Ulster in Belfast in April 2019

– Leinster have won their last 14 matches at the Aviva Stadium in all competitions since Toulon beat them there in the Heineken Champions Cup in December 2015

– Munster’s most recent defeat in the Championship was 38-17 on a trip to Belfast to face Ulster on January 3

– Munster have won just twice away from home in the PRO14 since November, at Connacht at the end of December and Zebre in February

– The Munstermen’s only victory at the Aviva Stadium in 11 visits since the ground’s redevelopment was against Leinster in the Championship in October 2014

– Leinster’s only defeat in their last seven fixtures against their fiercest rivals was 26-17 at Thomond Park in December 2018

– Overall, the two provinces have met on 158 occasions since their first meeting in March 1877 with Leinster winning 99 of those encounters to Munster’s 48. There have been eleven draws