Interprovincial previews: In this ever-changing crazy world of rugby we live in, not so long ago the once dreary Guinness Interprovincials were a key component in the revitalisation of Irish rugby. In particular, the Munster-Leinster rivalry became the highlight of the domestic calendar, a quasi final trial and a grudge match all rolled into one.
Expanded into a two-series, home-and-away championship complete with a Super 12 bonus-points system for the last three seasons the interpros never had it so good. The cream rose to the top. It was surely no coincidence the best team in Munster's history not only delivered first back-to-back titles but also a treble.
First off they had to subdue Ulster, ending 20 years of hurt in Belfast with an overdue win there at Queen's two seasons ago and following it up with victory at Ravenhill in last season's opener.
Latterly though, Leinster have brought the best out of Munster, most notably in a Keith Wood inspired 30-13 hammering at Donnybrook two seasons ago and a high-quality draw there last season, before Leinster's epic Celtic League final win in December.
Alas this meeting doesn't have anything like the same cache. In the squeeze brought about by the extra international demands this season and the inaugural Celtic League, something had to give and the interpros were cut in half. Indeed, the outstanding two series have been refixed almost as an after-thought, and tonight's game above all serves as a useful warm-up for Munster's Heineken Cup semi-final against Castres in eight days' time.
Indeed, not alone are the intepros no longer the decisive qualifying event for next season's European Cup, they don't even have any bearing even on the Irish seedings.
It's a shame, too, that Leinster, the last team to beat Munster at Thomond Park seven years ago, have never been invited back to the Limerick citadel since for that would surely give an encounter between the two added lustre. Instead, Leinster return to Cork for the fourth time in five years, the one visit to Limerick taking them to Dooradoyle as it coincided with refurbishment at Thomond Park, so Matt Williams has still to take them there.
Yet try telling this to the Cork rugby public, who seem unusually turned on by this match-up with promises of a huge attendance and perhaps even a sell-out tonight. Clearly this is as much a fond bon voyage to Beziers next week as much as anything else, but no matter how much both camps play it down, the Munster supporters would like a little revenge for the events of Lansdowne Road last December.
In that they should be handsomely satisfied as well. For starters, Munster are not missing Peter Stringer, David Wallace and John Hayes this time. Instead it's Leinster's absent casualties which undermines their challenge and may diminish this evening's contest a little for they are without their three incumbent international backs, Brian O'Driscoll, Girvan Dempsey and Shane Horgan (their prime match-winner in December's meeting).
Even with one eye on events a week hence, and allowing for an expected spate of replacements, with a strong vocal following Munster should have a good deal more appetite for this one.
MUNSTER: D Crotty; J Kelly, R Henderson, J Holland, A Horgan; R O'Gara, P Stringer; M Horan, F Sheahan, J Hayes, M Galwey (captain), P O'Connell, J Williams, A Foley, D Wallace. Replacements: M Cahill, J Blaney, M O'Driscoll, A Quinlan, M Prendergast, M Mullins, J Staunton.
LEINSTER: G D'Arcy; J McWeeney, B O'Driscoll, D Quinlan, P McKenna; N Spooner, B O'Meara; R Corrigan (Captain), S Byrne, P Wallace, B Casey, M O'Kelly, A McCullen, E Miller, K Gleeson. Replacements: Peter Smyth, P Coyle, L Cullen, L Toland, B Willis, S Keogh, J Norton.
Referee: Alain Rolland (IRFU).
Overall interpro record: Played 58, Leinster 27 wins, 4 draws, Munster 27 wins.
Last three seasons: (1998-99) Munster 18 Leinster 24, Leinster 10 Munster 25. (1999-00) Munster 31 Leinster 20, Leinster 13 Munster 30. (2000-01) Munster 26 Leinster 20, Leinster 16 Munster 16. (2001-2) (Celtic League final) Leinster 24 Munster 20.
