A look at the Munster team

Munster

15 Denis Hurley

Age: 23 Height: 6' 2"

Weight: 13st 7lbs (86kg )

Has made a tremendous impact. Strong on the ball, solid under it and runs good lines. Also possesses good vision, as demonstrated in Kingsholm.

14 Doug Howlett

Age: 29 Height: 6' 1"

Weight: 14st (89kg)

Has fitted seamlessly into set-up and brought so much class and footballing nous. A brilliant finisher that could prove more potent if team-mates pick up his lines of running.

13 Lifeimi Mafi

Age: 25 Height: 5' 10"

Weight: 13st 3lbs (84kg)

Responsible for some wonderful crash tackles that have rattled ball carriers. Equally abrasive when carrying ball. A brilliant addition for Munster and would be for Ireland in the future.

12 Rua Tipoki

Age: 32 Height: 5' 10"

Weight: 14st 6lbs (92kg)

It's only a slight exaggeration to suggest he could probably step his way around three people in a phone box. Great feet in traffic, good vision and aggressive in defence but needs to be careful not to shoot out of defensive line.

11 Ian Dowling

Age: 25 Height: 5' 11"

Weight: 14st 9lbs (93kg)

Has been in superb form either side of his injury problems. Carries ball to great effect and not afraid to make the hard yards in heavy traffic. He may be underrated in some quarters but certainly not undervalued in a Munster context.

10 Ronan O'Gara

Age: 31 Height: 6'

Weight: 13st 1lb (83kg)

The lynchpin behind Munster's attacking gambits. Given a reasonable platform there isn't a better exponent of the kicking game in terms of field position and the placed ball. His distribution skills are excellent as is his temperament. A big-game player.

9 Tomás O'Leary

Age: 24 Height: 5' 11"

Weight: 13st 5lbs (85kg)

Recall watching him in the Under-21 World Cup final defeat by New Zealand and being struck by the integrity of his work-rate with and without the ball. His passing was an issue at one point but he has worked hard and now it's excellent. The next arena for him will be the Test one.

1 Marcus Horan

Age: 30 Height: 6' 1"

Weight: 16st 3lbs (103kg)

Plagued by a back injury that has flared periodically. Good footballer but tomorrow may be asked to graft a little closer to the front line.

Cobus Visagie will go after him in the scrum so the Munster eight's collective technique will be important.

2 Jerry Flannery

Age: 29 Height: 5' 11"

Weight: 15st 6lbs (98kg)

Tough, committed, all-action dynamo who is invariably to be found in the thick of the action. He has a tremendous work ethic and gets through huge amounts offensively and defensively. Discharges his lineout duties effectively.

3 John Hayes

Age: 34 Height: 6' 4"

Weight: 19st 9lbs (125kg)

Gets through an amazing amount of the hard and unspectacular graft that underpins any successful team displays. Makes tackles, hits rucks, lifts jumpers and every now and again gets to take the ball into contact. Trojan of the pack.

4 Donncha O'Callaghan

Age: 29 Height: 6' 6"

Weight: 17st (108kg)

It seems to be a recurring image as the Corkman peers over the top of countless rucks, desperately looking for an opportunity to manhandle the scrumhalf. He performs all the nitty-gritty of his position as a matter of course and then ramps up the workload further. Mainstay.

5 Paul O'Connell

Age: 28 Height: 6' 6"

Weight: 17st (108kg)

The back problem threatened to wreak havoc with his season but there was evidence - prior to missing the last game with a slight strain - he was back to his best. Calls the lineout, carries ball and generally leads by example with a hard-nosed focus.

6 Alan Quinlan

Age: 33 Height: 6' 3"

Weight: 16st 7lbs (105kg)

Arguably Munster's outstanding player this season, he has quite simply been immense. He is a destructive and unrelenting presence for opponents while his athleticism makes him an important cog when Munster have possession.

7 David Wallace

Age: 31 Height: 6' 2"

Weight: 15st 6lbs (98kg)

The most potent ball carrier in the pack and a player who is a serial gain-line breaker.

Very good athlete who also manages his fair share of turnovers.

Wallace may not be a classic openside, but he is definitely a classy one.

8 Denis Leamy

Age: 26 Height: 6' 2"

Weight: 17st (108kg)

Another excellent ball carrier, he's often charged with making inroads close to the fringes of rucks or mauls but is equally comfortable in the wide open spaces. Fulfils his basic duties as a matter of course but brings so much more in terms of football to the Munster team.

Saracens

15 Richard Haughton

Age: 27 Height: 6'2"

Weight: 13st 7lbs (86kg)

Won a silver medal with the England Sevens at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, this season he has looked to concentrate on the 15-man game.

Seriously quick he is a more authoritative tackler than his slight frame suggests.

14 Francisco Leonelli

Age: 29 Height: 6' 3"

Weight: 14st 3lbs (90kg)

Born in Bolivia but with 14 caps for Argentina, he joined the club from Glasgow having previously played for Edinburgh. Scored a hat-trick of tries last weekend against Wasps to take his tally to seven, a strike-rate of one every two games he's played.

13 Kevin Sorrell

Age: 31 Height: 6' 2"

Weight: 13st 8lbs (87kg)

He has represented England at Schools, Under-19, Under-21 and A level without being capped at senior level. He was Saracens' player of the year two years ago and a contender last season. He is a very good defender and is aggressive in the tackle.

12 Adam Powell

Age: 21 Height: 5' 11"

Weight: 14st 12lbs (94kg)

A young centre with plenty of talent, he has made over 20 appearances for the club this season, scoring seven tries. A former captain of the England Under-19s, he could make the England Saxons squad for this summer's Churchill Cup.

11 Kameli Ratuvou

Age: 24 Height: 6' 3"

Weight: 14st (89kg)

The Fijian is one of the best centres in world rugby and has also played on the wing. Top try scorer last season with 11 and has nine in the present campaign. He is strong, quick and agile and will need careful watching.

10 Glen Jackson

Age: 32 Height: 5' 11"

Weight: 13st 5lbs (85kg)

The New Zealander was voted the Guinness Premiership players' player of the season last year but this season his form hasn't been as good.

Nevertheless he is singled out by every opposing side as a key Saracens player. Given the scope can dictate a game but less capable recently.

9 Neil de Kock

Age: 29 Height: 5' 10"

Weight: 12st 10lbs (81kg)

The talented scrumhalf is gifted with accurate passing and excellent decision making, skills that have earned him 10 caps for the Springboks since his debut against Italy in 2001. The former Western Province player has formed a good understanding with Jackson.

1 Nick Lloyd

Age: 31 Height: 6'

Weight: 16st 9lbs (106kg)

He has largely made the loosehead position his own with 20 appearances this season after some injury problems. Noted for his ability in the tight, he has been included in several training squads with Scotland but has never played at A or senior level.

2 Matt Cairns

Age: 29 Height: 5' 11"

Weight: 16st (102kg)

A tough, combative hooker, he has played more than 150 matches for Saracens in two spells at the club and at the end of this season will mark a decade in service with the men in black. Has battled with Fabio Ongaro for the starting role and before that Shane Byrne.

3 Cobus Visagie

Age: 34 Height: 6' 1"

Weight: 18st 5lbs (117kg)

Cornerstone of the Saracens scrum. He has been named in the Premiership team of the season for the past two years. Capped 29 times for the Springboks, he hasn't played Test rugby for several years but that's not due to aptitude. A qualified accountant he also holds a pilot's licence.

4 Hugh Vyvyan

Age: 31 Height: 6' 6"

Weight: 17st (108kg)

His all-round athleticism may be gleaned from the fact he has played secondrow, blindside flanker and number eight this season alone. He once dropped a goal in a Heineken Cup match. He's a fine all-round player and very much a leader.

5 Kris Chesney

Age: 34 Height: 6' 6"

Weight: 18st 3lbs (116kg)

In his 12th season with Saracens and a firm crowd favourite. He has played wing, in the backrow and lock in more recent seasons. As a youngster, his speed was a major asset to his game as he clocked as low as 11.2 seconds for 100 metres.

6 Paul Gustard

Age: 32 Height: 6' 4"

Weight: 17st (108kg)

Joined the club from London Irish last season having previously played for Leicester. He is a quick, combative backrow forward and has represented England at virtually every level bar Test match. He's an excellent defender and a constant presence at the breakdown.

7 Richard Hill

Age: 34 Height: 6' 2"

Weight: 16st (102kg)

Definitely one of the all-time great English forwards and while in the twilight of his career retains the street smarts to make an impact. He has toured three times with the Lions (1997, 2001, 2005), won the World Cup with England (2003) and contributed handsomely to Grand Slams.

8 Ben Skirving

Age: 24 Height: 6' 4"

Weight: 16st 11lbs (107kg)

He joined the Saracens academy set-up in 1999 and has represented England at every level from under-16 to under-21 before then being capped at A level and during last summer's full England tour made his senior debut against South Africa in the second Test. His pace earned him inclusion in the England Sevens squad.