League leaders Munster will defend their 11-year unbeaten run against their arch rivals in Limerick when the sides meet before a sell-out attendance of 26,000 - Munster’s last defeat to Leinster in Limerick was a 18-24 reverse in the inter-provincials at Dooradoyle in August 1998. Munster, who have won just one of their last six games against Irish provinces in all competitions, currently enjoy a three-point lead over Leinster at the top of the table.
Just five series of games remain to be played and Munster will enjoy home advantage for four of them.
Saturday night’s game, which begins at 7.30pm, will be refereed by French official, Christophe Berdos.
Munster coach McGahan said he expected the round 14 tie to be another tight affair. McGahan said he could feel the intensity and sense of anticipation building in the lead up to the game: “Games between Munster and Leinster are traditionally close affairs. A local derby is always like that.
“The players from both groups are looking forward to it immensely. This fixture is one which is certainly circled on the calendar each season.
“It brings it own passion and has got its own identity with the supporters. Everyone can feel the intensity building during the week. Everyone is looking forward to a high class game on Saturday evening.
“This is a massive game in its own right, regardless of where you meet them in the competition. Certainly, we know that if a result was to go our way and we worked hard enough, it would open up a bit of space at the top of the table.
“Each game between Munster and Leinster which has been played in my short time here has been very close.
“I think last year we lost both at home and away. That gives us added motivation to do well and even the result up in Dublin earlier this season was very close. The final score was 18-0, but we scored a try under the posts in the last minute.
“It was very, very close. A missed tackle or a conversion can make all the difference.”
“The absence of the international players during the RBS Six Nations Championship gave us a great opportunity to develop our game and to expose a number of players to the rigours of professional rugby. For the players to come through and garner 14 points from a maximum 15 over the last three games has been a tremendous achievement.
“It is one which has not been done here before.”
Meanwhile Munster have confirmed that the versatile Paul Warwick will spend two further seasons at least with the province. London Irish had claimed that Warwick had signed a contract to move to the Exiles at the end of this season. However, the Aussie-born star has since changed his mind and agreement has now been reached between the parties which will see the UL Bohemian player remain at Munster until the end of the 2010-11 season at least.
And in a further boost for Munster coach Tony McGahan winger Ian Dowling has recovered from a long-term hamstring injury and is included in the Munster squad to face Leinster. Dowling has been sidelined since picking up the injury in training at the start of February. However, influential centre Rua Tipoki is still recovering from a hamstring injury and has not been included in the 26-man squad for Saturday’s game.
Tipoki’s participation in the Easter Sunday Heineken Cup quarter-final clash with the Ospreys at Thomond Park must now be in doubt.
Munster Squad: Marcus Horan, Federico Pucciariello, Jerry Flannery, Denis Fogarty, John Hayes, Tony Buckley, Paul O’Connell, Donncha O’Callaghan, Mick O’Driscoll, Alan Quinlan, Niall Ronan, Donnacha Ryan, David Wallace, Denis Leamy, Tomas O’Leary, Peter Stringer, Ronan O’Gara, Paul Warwick, Jeremy Manning, Lifeimi Mafi, Barry Murphy, Keith Earls, Kieran Lewis, Doug Howlett, Ian Dowling, Denis Hurley.
Colm Kinsella
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