Preview: Munster v Leinster
Brian O'Driscoll returns to the Leinster line-up to face Munster on Saturday as Joe Schmidt's men look to maintain their second spot.
Brian O'Driscoll returns to the Leinster line-up to face Munster on Saturday as Joe Schmidt's men look to maintain their second spot.
With Munster all but clean and dry and the top of the table, Leinster are under pressure from Ulster and Ospreys, with all three teams tied on 55 points with the Cardiff Blues and Scarlets waiting to pounce five points further adrift.
Leinster have been boosted by the return to regional rugby of Irish centre pairing Brian O'Driscoll and Gordon D'Arcy, with fly-half Jonathan Sexton also back in the mix.
Scot Nathan Hinds comes off the bench to partner skipper Leo Cullen in second row, while Kevin McLaughlin is joined by Irish stars Sean O'Brien and Jamie Heaslip in the loose trio.
The front row gets a real lift with prop Cian Healy and Mike Ross slotting in on either side of Richardt Strauss.
The home side have made three changes to the team that beat Cardiff, with Donncha O'Callaghan comes into the second row while Donncha Ryan and David Wallace come into the loose trio in place of Denis Leamy and Niall Ronan with James Coughlan switching to number eight.
Conor Murray retains his place st scrum-half with Peter Stringer consigned to the bench.
Form: Leinster have won their last five matches against Munster in all competitions since Munster won 22-5 at Thomond Park on 4 April 2009.Munster have won their last four Magners League matches since their 18-19 reversal in Treviso on 13 February. The Munstermen have won all 13 home games they have played in all competitions this season. Leinster's only defeat in any competition since early December was 3-11 at Cardiff Blues in the Magners League on 19 February. The Leinstermen have won eight of their last nine encounters with fellow Irish provinces.
Munster: 15 Felix Jones, 14 Doug Howlett, 13 Johne Murphy, 12 Lifiemi Mafi, 11 Keith Earls, 10 Ronan O'Gara, 9 Conor Murray, 8 James Coughlan, 7 David Wallace, 6 Donncha Ryan, 5 Paul O'Connell (capt), 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 Tony Buckley, 2 Damien Varley, 1 Wian du Preez.
Replacements: 16 Mike Sherry, 17 Marcus Horan, 18 John Hayes, 19 Mick O'Driscoll, 20 Denis Leamy, 21 Peter Stringer, 22 Paul Warwick, 23 Sam Tuitupou.
Leinster: 15 Isa Nacewa, 14 Shane Horgan, 13 Brian O'Driscoll, 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Luke Fitzgerald, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Isaac Boss, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Sean O'Brien, 6 Kevin McLaughlin, 5 Nathan Hines, 4 Leo Cullen, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Richardt Strauss, 1 Cian Healy
Replacements:16 Aaron Dundon, 17 Heinke van der Merwe, 18 Stan Wright, 19 Devin Toner, 20 Rhys Ruddock, 21 Eoin Reddan, 22 Ian Madigan, 23 Fergus McFadden
Date: Saturday, April 2
Kick-off: 19:30 BST (18:30 GMT)
Venue: Thomond Park
Referee:Andrew Small