RUGBY Celtic League previews: Old foes, live television, a New Year's Day hangover and the majority of the cast that has brought Irish rugby to its present high level in the world game. Expect plenty to warm the soul in Musgrave Park tomorrow.
After a couple of gruelling tussles with Castres and a reacquaintance of hostilities with the Ospreys, Munster ground out victory at the Sportsground last Monday making tomorrow's visit by Leinster the latest war of attrition to land at their front door.
Both coaches have decided to delay naming their starting line-ups, instead continuing the latest fashion by three of the four Irish provinces of releasing 26-man squads for Celtic League games. This would not be tolerated in the Heineken European Cup. Nevertheless, the teams are expected to mirror what will take the field against the Ospreys (Munster) and Bath (Leinster) next weekend.
Munster bring back Ronan O'Gara, Peter Stringer, Rob Henderson, Mike Mullins and Frank Sheahan. David Wallace returns from injury but John Kelly hasn't hit the fitness levels required after injuring himself at a national squad training last month.
For Leinster, Girvan Dempsey returns to the squad, and probably the team, at the expense of Felipe Contepomi. The Argentinian was in outstanding international form in the autumn, albeit at outhalf, and the management are keen to find a starting slot for him. However, dropping David Holwell isn't an option at present and such is the embarrassment of riches at centre, full back was where Contepomi was accommodated in recent weeks. Against Ulster he showed attacking class but two spilled garryowens and a 50 per cent kicking ratio may have sealed his fate.
On the flipside, Contepomi is the type of player who can come in and turn a game with a flick of the wrist.
"He has played in three positions now and has produced a professional and capable performance in each one," said Leinster manager Paul McNaughton.
With two rounds of the European Cup on the horizon, things are about to go up another notch. "Most guys have got a rest at this stage," continued McNaughton. "Nobody is getting a rest for Munster so we will be picking a very strong team, not necessarily the Heineken Cup team but strong nevertheless."
Brian O'Meara is set to be unlucky in the race for the number nine shirt, with Guy Easterby getting the nod in recent big matches. A doubt surrounds David Quinlan (calf) and Malcolm O'Kelly (groin), while Gary Brown is out with a neck injury.
Shane Jennings, who bruised his knee against Cardiff on December 18th, is expected to return to battle with fellow rising openside Denis Leamy. The latter's elevation to international status places the onus on Jennings to make his mark.
The contest also has huge ramifications for the Celtic League as second in the table meets third. If Leinster prevail they will remain third but within spitting distance of the pace-setters. The Ospreys are a point clear of Munster after getting the bonus point against the Llanelli.
A tasty sub-plot to the match is it marks Declan Kidney's first return to Cork as an opposing coach. The squad doesn't fly south until later tonight.
Munster are on nine wins from nine outings in the league, two off the record held by Leinster.
What are the chances of Kidney engineering a first Leinster victory in Musgrave Park since the 15-6 victory in November 1985? Past hexes are not something that seems to concern the Leinster coach, or his players. Leinster, just about.
MUNSTER (Possible): C Cullen; S Payne, M Mullins, R Henderson, A Horgan; R O'Gara, P Stringer; M Horan, F Sheahan, J Hayes, D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell, A Quinlan, A Foley (capt), D Leamy. Replacements: M Prendergast, P Burke, P Devlin, G McIlwham, J Flannery, J Williams, D Wallace.
LEINSTER (Possible): G Dempsey; S Horgan, B O'Driscoll, G D'Arcy, D Hickie; D Holwell, G Easterby; R Corrigan (capt), S Byrne, E Byrne, L Cullen, M O'Kelly, E Miller, V Costello, S Jennings. Replacements: B O'Meara, F Contepomi, K Lewis, R Nebbett, D Blaney, B Gissing, A McCullen.
Referee: Alan Lewis (IRFU).
Previous meetings - December 2001 (Celtic League Final) - at Lansdowne Road: Leinster 24 Munster 20; April 2002 (Interprovincial Championship) - at Musgrave Park: Munster 6 Leinster 6; September 2003 (CL) - at Donnybrook: Leinster 8 Munster 15; February 2004 (CL) - at Musgrave Park: Munster 24 Leinster 13; September 2004 (CL) - at Donnybrook: Leinster 17 Munster 15.
Top try scorer: Munster - Christian Cullen 8. Leinster - Gary Brown 4.
Top Points scorer: Munster - Paul Burke 89. Leinster - Felipe Contepomi and David Holwell both 47.
Verdict: Leinster.
Munster v Leinster
Musgrave Park, Saturday, 5.30
On TV: Setanta Sports
