Leinster v Munster: Teams
Leinster will have summer signings CJ Van der Linde and Rocky Elsom as starting debutants for the sold-out clash with Munster.
Last Updated: 26/09/08 2:45pm
Leinster have named summer signings CJ Van der Linde and Rocky Elsom as starting debutants for the sold-out clash with rivals Munster at RDS on Sunday.
Captain Leo Cullen partners Malcolm O'Kelly in the second-row with Elsom lining up in the behind alongside Shane Jennings and Jamie Heaslip in an impressive selection.
In the backline, Chris Whitaker partners Jonathan Sexton at half-back with Shane Horgan starting on the right wing, Luke Fitzgerald on the left and Girvan Dempsey at full-back.
Munster coach Tony McGahan makes five changes from the side that started against Cardiff Blues last week for Sunday's spectacle.
Keith Earls takes over from Denis Hurley at full-back with the other change in the backs seeing Tomas O'Leary preferred over Peter Stringer who is named on the bench.
Up front Marcus Horan returns to the front-row in place of Tony Buckley while Donncha O'Callaghan partners captain Paul O'Connell at lock.
Behind is the experience of David Wallace at number seven as Niall Ronan is left out after scoring a vital brace last weekend in the bonus-point win.
Leinster: 15 Girvan Dempsey, 14 Shane Horgan, 13 Brian O'Driscoll, 12 Felipe Contepomi, 11 Luke Fitzgerald, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Chris Whitaker, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Shane Jennings, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Malcolm O'Kelly, 4 Leo Cullen (c), 3 CJ Van Der Linde, 2 Bernard Jackman, 1 Ronan McCormack.
Replacements: 16 Stan Wright, 17 John Fogarty, 18 Trevor Hogan, 19 Cameron Jowitt, 20 Sean O'Brien, 21 Chris Keane, 22 Rob Kearney.
Munster: 15 Keith Earls, 14 Doug Howlett, 13 Rua Tipoki, 12 Lifeimi Mafi, 11 Ian Dowling, 10 Ronan O'Gara, 9 Tomas O'Leary, 8 Justin Melck, 7 David Wallace, 6 Donncha Ryan, 5 Donncha O'Callaghan, 4 Paul O'Connell (c), 3 John Hayes, 2 Jerry Flannery, 1 Marcus Horan.
Replacements: 16 Frank Sheahan, 17 Federico Pucciariello, 18 John O'Sullivan, 19 Alan Quinlan, 20 Peter Stringer, 21 Paul Warwick, 22 Barry Murphy.