Strong line-ups.
Leo Cullen and Johann van Graan will have struggled to sleep this week with their minds occupied on picking their best hand for their respective Champions Cup semi-final clashes this weekend.
Because both men were facing some tough, tight calls not only regarding their Starting 15s but also on the personnel they would choose to man their benches, such is the strength in depth of both squads currently.
Munster
Munster will line out as follows for their clash with Racing 92 in Bordeaux on Sunday.
Squad Announcement 📢| @KEITHEARLS87 returns to be named in the starting XV for his 150th appearance in red 🔴
The winger is one of 9 changes for #R92vMUN #BordeauxBound🇫🇷
Team news here >> https://t.co/z2PK4bWJ5G #SUAF pic.twitter.com/Jmiz0b36ox
— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) April 20, 2018
The big news there is that Keith Earls has been named to start. He was supposed to be out for the season but he has shown once more that his healing powers know no end.
The Limerick man is tough as old boots, and so is his Waterford teammate Jack O’Donoghue who did his ankle two weeks ago, and wore an actual boot at training earlier this week.
These Munster men are tough as nails with James Hart named on the bench, despite suffering a concussion last weekend.
Leinster
Meanwhile, Saturday will be their biggest test of the season so far, however, as they take on a Scarlets side with plenty of experience and form. The 2017/2018 Pro 12 Champions defeated the blues in the semi-final of that competition and though the Irish side are heavy favourites this time around, writing off Welsh opposition is always done at our peril.
With Leo Cullen naming his team on Friday afternoon, the big news is that neither Sean O’Brien or Luke McGrath will start. Both men’s chances were 50/50 at the start of the week but this one has come too soon.
The loss of McGrath means that New Zealand winger James Lowe was forced to miss out.
Leinster, due to European Union employment laws, may only select two from their three non Irish-qualified New Zealanders and Australians. Jamison Gibson-Park replaces McGrath, and that left Wallabies star Fardy to take the one remaining, allocated slot.
Here is the official Leinster line-up.
Here is the team to represent Leinster in tomorrow's #ChampionsCup Semi-Final at @AVIVAStadium against Scarlets. #JoinTheRoar #LEIvSCA pic.twitter.com/0GMMelb76G
— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) April 20, 2018
15. Rob Kearney
14. Fergus McFadden
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Robbie Henshaw
11. Isa Nacewa
10. Johnny Sexton
9. Jamison Gibson Park
1. Cian Healy
2. Sean Cronin
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Devin Toner
5. James Ryan
6. Scott Fardy
7. Dan Leavy
8. Jordi Murphy
The weekend can’t come quick enough.
