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21st December 2016
11:06am GMT

Provinces traditional stack their selection deck for their home game over Christmas. The logic is to go for a home banker and hope the younger players, veterans, foreign imports and those out of international flavour can upset the odds away from home.
Leinster could split their big names over the Munster [away] and Ulster [home] games but the bold option is to go heavy with the big guns for the trip to Thomond Park.
Munster are a team revived but they have suffered their first loss in over two months against Leicester Tigers. Going down to a sold-out Thomond Park and making a statement would set an imposing tone for the remainder of the season.
How good would it be to see Leinster lining out with McGrath, Heaslip, Furlong, Ringrose and co. in Limerick? You can be sure Munster will go with Conor Murray, Simon Zebo, Peter O'Mahony, CJ Stander and Keith Earls.
That may leave Leinster short against Ulster but they have enough strength in depth to do a job at the RDS.
Ultimately, Cullen's mind may be made up by Ulster's team selection for their home tie with Connacht. If Les Kiss goes with a strong XV, you can be sure the likes of Rory Best, Paddy Jackson, Andrew Trimble and Iain Henderson will be less likely to travel south.
Put all the chips behind the table-topper and back the squad to get it done on New Years' Eve.Explore more on these topics: