Munster host Leinster in a sold-out St Stephen's Day URC derby clash in Thomond Park. We caught up with former Ulster and Irish rugby player Stephen Ferris to get his thoughts on the highly anticipated clash between two giants in Irish rugby.
Leinster come into the game in better form, winning their opening two games in the Champions Cup and being unbeaten in six games, whilst a Munster side which have struggled with injuries come into the spicy derby clash with only a draw and a loss in their previous two games, which were in the Champions Cup.
Positive news for Munster however sees tighthead prop Jager making his first start for Munster on his third appearance for the province, with Dave Kilcoyne joining Jager in the front row on his first start of the campaign after being sidelined due to a hamstring injury.
Hooker Diarmuid Barron captains the side and packs down with Kilcoyne and Jager in the front row. Whilst Simon Zebo also makes his way into the side at full-back for his second appearance of the season with Shane Daly moving to the left wing.
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Stephen Ferris's Munster v Leinster Preview
Stephen Ferris provided us with a preview of the game. He spoke of how injuries have disrupted things for Munster, especially in the forwards.
I think Munster have been hampered hugely by a number of key injuries, especially in their pack as well. Peter O'Mahony comes back from the World Cup, he played one game and then he's out injured again.
In the back row, there has been a hell of a lot of shuffling around Thomas Ahern playing six and he's obviously been in the second row an awful lot. Edogbo has been out injured for a number of games, big player for them.
Tadug Beirne, he's fit for every game, he seems to be sort of just the glue that seems to be holding bits and pieces of the pack together and we know the front row like Dave Kilcoyne just cannot keep himself fit at all.
I'm not sure what is up with him with the reoccurrence of the hamstring or whatever from the Rugby World Cup.
The only thing is, you know, you've Jack Crowley and Craig Casey, the new guy, New Zealander Alex Nankivell, and Antoine Frisch and Calvin Nash, and that just seems to be the only real consistency at the minute.
So you're talking four or five players, you know, and, and then when Leinster come fully stacked and they've been resting a lot of players. And what was it? 47 players they have used so far this season.
Then they pitch up with a team that's used to playing with each other, not only week in week out with Leinster, but also with Ireland.
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Munster v Leinster, who's favourite?
It's gonna be a big game. It's going to be a huge game, a game that I'm thoroughly looking forward to, but the way the two teams are at the minute. The two big wins in Europe for Leinster, two disappointing results for Munster. You'd have to say that Leinster are big, big favorites in this game for sure.
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