As European ambitions dwindle so local rivalries become more fierce.
Munster welcome their fiercest rivals to Thomond Park on Sunday for a traditional festive interprovincial derby and both sides have named strong teams for the PRO12 clash.
Anthony Foley makes four changes to the side beaten in Leicester last weekend, welcoming back BJ Botha, Donnacha Ryan and Jack O’Donogue in the pack, while fly-half Tyler Bleyendaal takes the place of Ian Keatley, who does not even make the bench.
Great news for Munster arrives in the shape of a fit again Tommy O’Donnell on the bench – the Tipperary flanker has not played since dislocating his hip in a World Cup warm-up game against Wales in August.
MunXV: Conway; Earls,Saili,Hurley,Zebo; Bleyendaal,Murray;Cronin, Sherry,Botha;Foley,D Ryan; Copeland,O’Donoghue,Stander Capt. #MunVLei
— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) December 24, 2015
Typo sorry, deleting too many words – Scannell, Kilcoyne, J Ryan, Holland, O'Donnell, O'Leary, R Scannell, Amorosino. #MunVLei
— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) December 24, 2015
There is also good back-row news for Leinster, who welcome Sean O’Brien back after his inner-ear problem. However Johnny Sexton is not in the 23 due to injury
Despite fighting against Cian Healy’s ban, successfully for now, Leo Cullen does not start Cian Healy – instead giving Jack McGrath the number 1 shirt. McGrath will line up alongside Sean Cronin – who will make his 100th appearance for Leinster in his native Limerick.
Intriguingly Cullen has paired Luke Fitzgerald and Gary Ringrose in midfield, with Worcester-bound Ben Te’o nowhere to be seen.
Here is your #LeinsterRugby starting XV to face Munster in #GuinnessPRO12. #MUNvLEINhttps://t.co/yiOH59dYAl
— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) December 24, 2015
