Tipp pair set to start for Munster against Leinster in the massive rugby showdown

Munster have named their starting team ahead of Saturday’s URC semi-final against Leinster and the mouthwatering encounter sees two Tipperary chaps lining out representing the province.

Nenagh’s Ben Healy comes into the starting lineup and is one of four changes from the team that started against Glasgow last weekend. West Tipp native Diarmuid Barron is back from injury and will start as will Ireland star Peter O’Mahony. 

Keith Earls has recovered from his recent groin injury and starts for the first time since he made his 200th Munster appearance against Sharks recently. Also Craig Casey and John Hodnett are both named to start tomorrow’s big game in the Aviva Stadium which kicks off at 5.30pm.

This is a competition Munster have specialised in as they have qualified for the URC semi-finals in 10 of 13 seasons since the play-off system was introduced in 2009/10 (with no semi-finals in 2021 due to the pandemic, Munster qualified directly for the final). 

Graham Rowntree’s team have not lost away from home in the URC since their defeat to Leinster at Aviva Stadium last October – beating Edinburgh, Ulster, Benetton, Stormers and Glasgow Warriors and drawing with Sharks.

It really is the clash of the titans as Munster have lost just one of their last nine URC matches: 26-38 at home to Glasgow Warriors in Round 16 while Leinster have played 27 previous URC games at the Aviva Stadium with their only defeat there being 34-23 to Munster in October 2014.

Here is the Munster team in full: 

Munster: Mike Haley; Keith Earls, Antoine Frisch, Jack Crowley, Shane Daly; Ben Healy, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron, Stephen Archer; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne; Peter O’Mahony (C), John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Niall Scannell, Josh Wycherley, Roman Salanoa, Fineen Wycherley, Jack O’Donoghue, Neil Cronin, Rory Scannell, Alex Kendellen.