RaboDirect PRO12 match preview: Munster v Leinster
Munster have named four changes to their side ahead of their RaboDirect PRO12 clash against rivals Leinster on Saturday.
Last Updated: 13/04/13 6:10pm
The lone change in Rob Penney's back line sees Ireland international Ronan O'Gara dropped in favour of Ian Keatley at fly-half.
Donncha O'Callaghan and captain Paul O'Connell will start in the second row while Tommy O'Donnell and Peter O'Mahoney will continue their partnership in the flanks.
Mike Sherry and BJ Botha have both been demoted to the bench as Penney brings in Damien Varley at hooker and Stephen Archer at prop.
Elsewhere, Dave O'Callaghan returns to the bench having been out since December while James Cronin has been named in the Munster squad for first time.
Leinster head into the all-Ireland clash boosted by the return of Brian O'Driscoll who is set to start at outside centre.
Fergus McFadden sustained a calf strain against London Wasps last time weekend paving the way for O'Driscoll to re-enter the fold.
The other three changes to the Leinster line-up come in the forwards with Shane Jennings, Quinn Roux and Sean Cronin all included.
Cronin will start at hooker in place of Richardt Strauss while Devin Toner and Kevin McLaughlin are reduced to the bench to see Roux and Jennings start in the second row and flanks respectively.
Munster: 15 Felix Jones, 14 Denis Hurley, 13 Casey Laulala, 12 James Downey, 11 Simon Zebo, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Conor Murray, 8 James Coughlan, 7 Tommy O'Donnell, 6 Peter O'Mahony, 5 Paul O'Connell (capt), 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 Stephen Archer, 2 Damien Varley, 1 David Kilcoyne.
Replacements: 16 Mike Sherry, 17 James Cronin, 18 BJ Botha, 19 Billy Holland, 20 Dave O'Callaghan, 21 Cathal Sheridan, 22 Ivan Dineen.
Leinster: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Dave Kearney, 13 Brian O'Driscoll, 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Isa Nacewa, 10 Ian Madigan, 9 Isaac Boss, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Shane Jennings, 6 Sean O'Brien, 5 Quinn Roux, 4 Leo Cullen (capt), 3 Mike Ross, 2 Sean Cronin, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements:16 Richardt Strauss, 17 Jack McGrath, 18 Michael Bent, 19 Devin Toner, 20 Kevin McLaughlin, 21 John Cooney, 22 Andrew Goodman, 23 Andrew Conway.
What they said...
Munster forward Donnacha Ryan
"We are mentally tough when it comes to belief; we have a lot of belief in ourselves.
"Leinster had a fantastic win against Wasps last weekend and they have some key players coming back in this weekend so we hope we can play well enough to win the game."
Leinster hooker Richardt Strauss
"It is going to be a massive one as it always is, we know what is waiting for us and we will prepare the best we can.
"We are very lucky in that our supporters always travel well and we saw that last weekend; we could hear them all singing and chanting."