Rugby:Munster have made three changes ahead of the Magners League derby clash with Leinster at Thomond Park on Saturday (7.30pm), but Tony McGahan has kept faith in youngsters Conor Murray and Felix Jones.
The 21-year-old Murray is preferred to Peter Stringer at scrumhalf, while former Leinster Academy star Jones (23) will face his old team-mates from fullback.
All three changes, therefore, come in the pack with Ireland international Donncha O'Callaghan returning to partner Paul O'Connell in the secondrow and David Wallace starting at openside flanker.
Slightly less predictable was the inclusion of Donnacha Ryan at blindside of a pack that has a distinctly physical look to it, although Mick O’Driscoll and Denis Leamy have to settle for a place on the bench.
The backrow battle will be an interesting one after Joe Schmidt named Kevin McLaughlin, Seán O’Brien and Jamie Heaslip among six Ireland internationals in the pack. On paper, at least, it looks a mouth-watering combination.
Leo Cullen will captain the side from the secondrow where he will be joined by Scotland lock Nathan Hines, while Cian Healy, Mike Ross and hooker Richardt Strauss will start in the frontrow.
Behind the scrum, Brian O’Driscoll and Gordon D’Arcy return to the centre to take on the table-toppers, while Isaac Boss will partner Jonathan Sexton. The scrumhalf has been preferred to Eoin Reddan in possibly the only contentious decision. He may just edge his team-mate in the physicality stakes.
The back three sees Luke Fitzgerald and Shane Horgan on the wings and Isa Nacewa continuing at fullback. Horgan will become the first Leinster player to make 200 appearances tomorrow.
Munster: F Jones; D Howlett, J Murphy, L Mafi, K Earls; R O'Gara, C Murray; W du Preez, D Varley, T Buckley; D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell capt; D Ryan, D Wallace, J Coughlan. Replacements: M Sherry, M Horan, J Hayes, M O'Driscoll, D Leamy, P Stringer, P Warwick, S Tuitupou.
Leinster: I Nacewa; S Horgan, B O'Driscoll, G D'Arcy, L Fitzgerald; J Sexton, I Boss; C Healy, R Strauss, M Ross; L Cullen (capt), N Hines; K McLaughlin, S O'Brien, J Heaslip. Replacements: A Dundon, H van der Merwe, S Wright, D Toner, R Ruddock, E Reddan, I Madigan, F McFadden
