The old rivals face off at The Aviva Stadium this weekend.
Leinster versus Munster, for many, is the hard launch of the rugby season. While fans of both provinces have followed their progress against the likes of Cheetahs, Ospreys and Glasgow, October often brings out several more thousand as a slate of big games begins.
There is surely no better way of both sides getting a tough game under their belts than by hurtling at each other in league action, but for inter-provincial pride.
We had a look at both Leinster and Munster, and the matchday squads they are likely to select on Saturday, to come up with a combined XV. We did not consider currently injured players – such as Isa Nacewa, Jaco Taute, Jamie Heaslip, Jean Kleyn, Garry Ringrose, Dan Goggins or Rob Kearney – but that barely made our task any easier.
Starting with the FRONT ROW, Lions Jack McGrath and Tadhg Furlong both came back against Edinburgh last week and will be well up or a tough old contest against the likes of Dave Kilcoyne, John Ryan and our selection at hooker, Niall Scannell.
It’s an all-Leinster SECOND ROW of Scott Fardy and Devin Toner while Munster get two of the BACK ROW slots – three Lions here, in Peter O’Mahony, CJ Stander and Leinster’s Sean O’Brien at openside.
The HALF-BACKS are relatively simple to choose, with Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton keeping the likes of Luke McGrath, Ian Keatley, Ross Byrne and Tyler Bleyendaal at bay.
In MIDFIELD, we reckon Robbie Henshaw and Chris Farrell would be a serious unit to contend with. They may be on opposing sides this weekend but Joe Schmidt may yet link them up on Ireland duty.
That leaves our BACK THREE and Munster shade this one. Simon Zebo and Keith Earls are on the left and right wings, respectively, while Joey Carbery gets in ahead of Andrew Conway. The No.15 call was the toughest of all as we have already tipped as a serious contender for that position in this November’s Guinness Series.
LEINSTER & MUNSTER COMBINED XV
Credit: Sharemy15Replacements: Sean Cronin (Leinster), Cian Healy (Leinster), John Ryan (Munster), James Ryan (Leinster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster), Luke McGrath (Leinster), Tyler Bleyendaal (Munster), Andrew Conway (Munster).
The final tally, in the matchday 23, stands at LEINSTER 13, MUNSTER 10.
Leinster have the edge here and, as it currently stands, that’s how the oddsmakers are looking at it too. All talk and speculation, of course, goes out the window on Saturday afternoon when both sides meet at the Aviva Stadium.
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