News
Preview: Leinster v Munster
September 26 2008
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.
Form: Defending Magners League champions Leinster have been defeated just once since they moved permanently to the RDS at the start of last season - 23-52 to the Scarlets on October 5, 2007. They are also undefeated in their last eight encounters against fellow Irish teams, whilst their last home defeat in the league to an Irish Province was 8-15 to Munster at Donnybrook on 5 September 2003. Munster 's 28-20 defeat of Cardiff Blues on Saturday sees them sit atop the Magners League table for the first time since February 2006. The Munstermen's last win in Dublin was 30-6 over Leinster in the semi-final of the European Cup at Lansdowne Road on 23 April 2006. Leinster have won three of their last four encounters with Munster.
Prediction: In the battle of last year's champions home advantage could prove crucial in Dublin. This is why we're plumping for Leinster to edge the table-toppers by six.
The teams:
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.
Date: Sunday 28 September, 2008
Kick-off: 19:00 (18:00 GMT)
Venue: RDS, Dublin
Referee: Simon McDowell (Ireland)
Touch judges: Colin Stanley (Ireland), David Wilkinson (Ireland)
Television match official: Marshall Kilgore (Ireland)
Assessor: Tom Aplin (Ireland)