Munster v Leinster: Teams
Munster entertain Leinster in their top-of-the-table Magners League clash at Thomond Park on Friday night.
Last Updated: 01/04/10 3:31pm
Munster entertain Leinster in their top-of-the-table Magners League clash at Thomond Park on Friday night.
The second-placed hosts have won their last two outings to sit four points behind Leinster, but have played a game more than the leaders.
Jerry Flannery returns to competitive action for Munster the first time since being suspended for an incident in the RBS Six Nations game against France.
But two players named in the extended squad on Tuesday - captain Paul O'Connell and Keith Earls - have both been forced to withdraw from the interprovincial derby clash after suffering from groin strain.
In the absence of O'Connell, the hosts will be led by Ronan O'Gara, who is set to win his 180th Munster cap.
The hosts will be seeking to avenge their 30-0 loss against Leinster when the sides last met at the RDS back in October.
D'Arcy starts
For Leinster, Gordon D'Arcy starts at inside centre in the only change in the backline from the side which defeated Connacht 17-14 last weekend - the leaders' fifth successive Magners League win.
D'Arcy will partner Fergus McFadden, Rob Kearney continues at full-back with Girvan Dempsey and Isa Nacewa on the wings, while Eoin Reddan remains at half-back alongside Jonathan Sexton.
Jamie Heaslip is also named in the starting line up and the number eight is part of a back-row which also includes fellow Ireland back-row forward Shane Jennings and Scotland's Nathan Hines.
Leo Cullen leads the side and starts at second row alongside Devin Toner, while Cian Healy joins fellow Ireland internationals Bernard Jackman and Malcolm O'Kelly on the bench.
Munster: 15 Paul Warwick, 14 Doug Howlett, 13 Lifeimi Mafi, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Ian Dowling, 10 Ronan O'Gara (capt), 9 Tomas O'Leary, 1 Marcus Horan, 2 Jerry Flannery, 3 John Hayes, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 5 Mick O'Driscoll, 6 Alan Quinlan, 7 Niall Ronan, 8 David Wallace.
Replacements: 16 Denis Fogarty, 17 Tony Buckley, 18 Nick Williams, 19 James Coughlan, 20 Peter Stringer, 21 Tom Gleeson, 22 Scott Deasy.
Leinster: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Girvan Dempsey, 13 Fergus McFadden, 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Isa Nacewa, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Eoin Reddan, 1 Stan Wright, 2 John Fogarty, 3 CJ van der Linde, 4 Leo Cullen (capt), 5 Devin Toner, 6 Nathan Hines, 7 Shane Jennings, 8 Jamie Heaslip.
Replacements: 16 Bernard Jackman, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Malcolm O'Kelly, 19 Stephen Keogh, 20 Paul O'Donohoe, 21 Shaun Berne, 22 Eoin O'Malley.