Garry Ringrose returns from injury to take his place in the Leinster backline for Saturday's game against Munster at Thomond Park.
Jonathan Sexton will captain the side in the number ten jersey with Luke McGrath beside him at half-back.
For the men in red CJ Stander will make his 150th appearance for Munster as he dons the number eight shirt.
.@JohnnySexton captains #LeinsterRugby tomorrow and @Ringrose_G returns! 💪🔵👇#MUNvLEI#GuinnessPRO14 pic.twitter.com/s2pp9ALchA
— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) January 22, 2021
The back row battle will be a ferocious one with the game in effect a Six Nations audition for many. CJ Stander will be flanked by captain Peter O’Mahony and Gavin Coombes.
The man who is the incumbent Ireland number eight, Caelin Doris will have Rhys Ruddock and Will Connors beside him in the visiting back row.
📢 TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT | The Munster side to face Leinster at @ThomondStadium tomorrow night has been named.@CJStander will make his 150th appearance for the province with @MikeHaley_1 set for his 50th Munster appearance.
Full team details ⤵️#MUNvLEI #SUAF 🔴— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) January 22, 2021
Ringrose has Robbie Henshaw alongside him in the centre, another intriguing battle, where the home side have superstar signing Damien de Allende alongside Irish international Chris Farrell.
Munster have named Keith Earls and Shane Daly on the wings with Mike Haley at full-back, while Hugo Keenan will wear the Leinster number 15 shirt. Jordan Larmour and Jimmy O Brien are named on the wings.
"I'd be looking to target the Leinster line-out"
Keith Wood thinks that @Munsterrugby are in with a chance of getting a big win over Leinster this weekend - here's why ⬇️🏉@vodafoneireland #TeamOfUs
Full Video: https://t.co/rZCraVlh78 pic.twitter.com/9tkbmFwpNC— Off The Ball (@offtheball) January 21, 2021
As Keith Wood alluded to on Off The Ball this week, the forward battle will be intense with both sides naming strong front fives.
Healy and Porter will prop down with Sean Cronin while the Munster front row will be James Cronin, Rhys Marshall and John Ryan.
Full Match Squads
Munster: Mike Haley; Keith Earls, Chris Farrell, Damian de Allende, Shane Daly; JJ Hanrahan, Conor Murray; James Cronin, Rhys Marshall, John Ryan; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne; Gavin Coombes, Peter O’Mahony (C), CJ Stander.
Replacements: Niall Scannell, Dave Kilcoyne, Stephen Archer, Fineen Wycherley, Jack O’Donoghue, Craig Casey, Ben Healy, Rory Scannell.
Leinster Rugby: Hugo Keenan; Jordan Larmour, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw Jimmy O’Brien; Johnny Sexton (C) ,Luke McGrath; Cian Healy, Seán Cronin, Andrew Porter; Scott Fardy, James Ryan; Rhys Ruddock, Will Connors, Caelan Doris.
Replacements: Rónan Kelleher, Ed Byrne, Tom Clarkson, Ross Molony, Jack Conan; Jamison Gibson-Park, Ross Byrne, Josh van der Flier.
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
