A STELLAR CAST, A near sell-out crowd and a rivalry which stretches back decades, this afternoon’s interpro clash at the Aviva Stadium has all the ingredients to be an early-season classic.
We may only be a handful of games into the new term but already we are looking at this Guinness Pro12 clash as the starting point for each of the province’s respective campaigns.
Given what’s on the horizon, there is much more than just points on offer at Lansdowne Road — and Leo Cullen, having experienced these fixtures as a player and now coach, knows they don’t come much bigger than Leinster v Munster.
With both sides having enjoyed a solid start to the season, the sense of anticipation ahead of today’s meeting is perhaps greater than in previous years; perhaps it’s because we’re only in round six and optimism still abounds but the strength of each line-up is a more likely reason.
Rassie Erasmus is beginning to put his stamp on this Munster side and the inclusion of Peter O’Mahony coupled with a Leinster debut for Robbie Henshaw means there are subplots aplenty to this one.
So why, if the fixture has the capacity to attract a crowd of over 40,000, has there been suggestions it’s losing its appeal and intensity? Gordon D’Arcy was one to question if it still meant as much to the players nowadays, writing that the rivalry and game had become ‘too sanitised.’
“In many ways it feels like we’re trying to justify this fixture,” Cullen said yesterday.
Cullen speaking at yesterday's pre-match press conference. Dan Sheridan / INPHO
Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
“Justify that it is a great rivalry, because if you went around the world, any rugby environment around the world, and they try to explain this fixture. So to say this fixture is diminished is really unfair because I would struggle to find a fixture anywhere else in the world that has this sense of rivalry.”
“So I think we need to celebrate it rather than try and say it’s not the way it once was. Say, provincial rivalries in New Zealand, do you think any of their games are as good as this in terms of 40,000 people coming through the turnstiles and the sense of media interest, etc, etc?”
“I’m trying to think of South Africa or Australia, you’d struggle to get a comparison. I think D’Arce has a very blurred view of the past. If you look back to Leinster v Munster in Dooradoyle [1998], when there was what, 2-300 people playing an interprovincial game.
“When Leinster played against Munster in the RDS, five or six years ago, there was a hell of a lot less than 40,000 people at the game, so I think some of the comments are a little unfair.”
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Cullen has a point. In very few leagues around the world would you get this sort of occasion and after last night’s thrilling clash between Connacht and Ulster, it will only serve as a reminder of how good we have it here.
The Leinster head coach has always been an ardent supporter and advocate for the Pro12 league and when others have knocked it, he’s responded with a staunch defence.
He did something similar yesterday, questioning D’Arcy’s comments and insisting the Leinster-Munster rivalry is an example of what the Pro12, and Irish rugby, has to offer.
“I think it should be a celebration of the Pro12,” he continued.
“This is two teams going at it in front of 40,000 people who are turning up to watch the game, and two teams for whom it means a hell of a lot. It means a hell a lot more than the four or five points that are on offer. So yeah, it is a bit special.
“I think it is a good advert for the league. I don’t see it in other leagues around the world as a fixture like this, and is annual. Granted when something takes place every year we need to celebrate it rather than say ‘here we go again’. It should be celebrated and I think it’s important to celebrate it.
A big crowd is expected at the Aviva Stadium. Inpho / Billy Stickland
Inpho / Billy Stickland / Billy Stickland
“There’s a lot of competition now [from other sports], but ask any of the other players does it mean any less now…I think you’ll see the intensity of the players, and what it means to them.
“I can’t speak for all the supporters, but talking to a lot of people they’re genuinely excited about going to the game. I think it has grown and it will continue to do so. There will be peaks and troughs, but it’s incredible to have 40,000 going to the game, and hopefully there will be a late rush when they see the teams. It’s such a special game.”
Both teams are brimming with international quality but the back-row battle promises to be as fascinating as it will be crucial in determining the outcome of the contest; Ruddock, Murphy and Heaslip lining-up against O’Mahony, O’Donnell and Stander. Where else would you get such fare on offer?
“I think they will be full-on,” Cullen says of Munster. “They will be the usual confrontational, try to take us on physically. It is important our guys are ready for that.
“Defensively, they’ve looked very good this year. They are getting more players to fill the field than they would have in the past, playing a little higher as well on the edges.
“I think (it will be the) the usual strong set-piece, strong lineout-maul, try and take us on physically like they have in the past, especially in the Aviva.”
“They’re a team we know pretty well. We’ll see at six minutes past two when you’re six minutes into the game and see how players react. You’ll come under pressure in these games, it’s just how teams react.”
At the start of a crucial four weeks, both sides will be desperate to react first and go into the start of the European season off the back of an interpro victory. In that sense, the timing of this game is perfect; it promises to be a cracker.
Leinster:
15. Rob Kearney
14. Rory O’Loughlin
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Robbie Henshaw
11. Isa Nacewa (captain)
10. Johnny Sexton
9. Luke McGrath
1. Cian Healy
2. Sean Cronin
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Devin Toner
5. Ian Nagle
6. Rhys Ruddock
7. Jordi Murphy
8. Jamie Heaslip
Replacements:
16. James Tracy
17. Jack McGrath
18. Mike Ross
19. Ross Molony
20. Dan Leavy
21. Jamison Gibson-Park
22. Joey Carbery
23. Noel Reid
Munster:
15. Simon Zebo
14. Darren Sweetnam
13. Keith Earls
12. Rory Scannell
11. Ronan O’Mahony
10. Tyler Bleyendaal
9. Conor Murray
1. Dave Kilcoyne
2. Niall Scannell
3. John Ryan
4. Donnacha Ryan
5. Billy Holland
6. Peter O’Mahony (captain)
7. Tommy O’Donnell
8. CJ Stander
Replacements:
16. Duncan Casey
17. James Cronin
18. Stephen Archer
19. Robin Copeland
20. Jack O’Donoghue
21. Duncan Williams
22. Ian Keatley
23. Jaco Taute
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'It means a hell of a lot more than four or five points, it's such a special game'
Updated at 08.00
A STELLAR CAST, A near sell-out crowd and a rivalry which stretches back decades, this afternoon’s interpro clash at the Aviva Stadium has all the ingredients to be an early-season classic.
We may only be a handful of games into the new term but already we are looking at this Guinness Pro12 clash as the starting point for each of the province’s respective campaigns.
Given what’s on the horizon, there is much more than just points on offer at Lansdowne Road — and Leo Cullen, having experienced these fixtures as a player and now coach, knows they don’t come much bigger than Leinster v Munster.
With both sides having enjoyed a solid start to the season, the sense of anticipation ahead of today’s meeting is perhaps greater than in previous years; perhaps it’s because we’re only in round six and optimism still abounds but the strength of each line-up is a more likely reason.
Rassie Erasmus is beginning to put his stamp on this Munster side and the inclusion of Peter O’Mahony coupled with a Leinster debut for Robbie Henshaw means there are subplots aplenty to this one.
So why, if the fixture has the capacity to attract a crowd of over 40,000, has there been suggestions it’s losing its appeal and intensity? Gordon D’Arcy was one to question if it still meant as much to the players nowadays, writing that the rivalry and game had become ‘too sanitised.’
“In many ways it feels like we’re trying to justify this fixture,” Cullen said yesterday.
“Justify that it is a great rivalry, because if you went around the world, any rugby environment around the world, and they try to explain this fixture. So to say this fixture is diminished is really unfair because I would struggle to find a fixture anywhere else in the world that has this sense of rivalry.”
“So I think we need to celebrate it rather than try and say it’s not the way it once was. Say, provincial rivalries in New Zealand, do you think any of their games are as good as this in terms of 40,000 people coming through the turnstiles and the sense of media interest, etc, etc?”
“I’m trying to think of South Africa or Australia, you’d struggle to get a comparison. I think D’Arce has a very blurred view of the past. If you look back to Leinster v Munster in Dooradoyle [1998], when there was what, 2-300 people playing an interprovincial game.
Cullen has a point. In very few leagues around the world would you get this sort of occasion and after last night’s thrilling clash between Connacht and Ulster, it will only serve as a reminder of how good we have it here.
The Leinster head coach has always been an ardent supporter and advocate for the Pro12 league and when others have knocked it, he’s responded with a staunch defence.
He did something similar yesterday, questioning D’Arcy’s comments and insisting the Leinster-Munster rivalry is an example of what the Pro12, and Irish rugby, has to offer.
“I think it should be a celebration of the Pro12,” he continued.
“This is two teams going at it in front of 40,000 people who are turning up to watch the game, and two teams for whom it means a hell of a lot. It means a hell a lot more than the four or five points that are on offer. So yeah, it is a bit special.
“I think it is a good advert for the league. I don’t see it in other leagues around the world as a fixture like this, and is annual. Granted when something takes place every year we need to celebrate it rather than say ‘here we go again’. It should be celebrated and I think it’s important to celebrate it.
“There’s a lot of competition now [from other sports], but ask any of the other players does it mean any less now…I think you’ll see the intensity of the players, and what it means to them.
“I can’t speak for all the supporters, but talking to a lot of people they’re genuinely excited about going to the game. I think it has grown and it will continue to do so. There will be peaks and troughs, but it’s incredible to have 40,000 going to the game, and hopefully there will be a late rush when they see the teams. It’s such a special game.”
Both teams are brimming with international quality but the back-row battle promises to be as fascinating as it will be crucial in determining the outcome of the contest; Ruddock, Murphy and Heaslip lining-up against O’Mahony, O’Donnell and Stander. Where else would you get such fare on offer?
“I think they will be full-on,” Cullen says of Munster. “They will be the usual confrontational, try to take us on physically. It is important our guys are ready for that.
“I think (it will be the) the usual strong set-piece, strong lineout-maul, try and take us on physically like they have in the past, especially in the Aviva.”
“They’re a team we know pretty well. We’ll see at six minutes past two when you’re six minutes into the game and see how players react. You’ll come under pressure in these games, it’s just how teams react.”
At the start of a crucial four weeks, both sides will be desperate to react first and go into the start of the European season off the back of an interpro victory. In that sense, the timing of this game is perfect; it promises to be a cracker.
Leinster:
15. Rob Kearney
14. Rory O’Loughlin
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Robbie Henshaw
11. Isa Nacewa (captain)
10. Johnny Sexton
9. Luke McGrath
1. Cian Healy
2. Sean Cronin
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Devin Toner
5. Ian Nagle
6. Rhys Ruddock
7. Jordi Murphy
8. Jamie Heaslip
Replacements:
16. James Tracy
17. Jack McGrath
18. Mike Ross
19. Ross Molony
20. Dan Leavy
21. Jamison Gibson-Park
22. Joey Carbery
23. Noel Reid
Munster:
15. Simon Zebo
14. Darren Sweetnam
13. Keith Earls
12. Rory Scannell
11. Ronan O’Mahony
10. Tyler Bleyendaal
9. Conor Murray
1. Dave Kilcoyne
2. Niall Scannell
3. John Ryan
4. Donnacha Ryan
5. Billy Holland
6. Peter O’Mahony (captain)
7. Tommy O’Donnell
8. CJ Stander
Replacements:
16. Duncan Casey
17. James Cronin
18. Stephen Archer
19. Robin Copeland
20. Jack O’Donoghue
21. Duncan Williams
22. Ian Keatley
23. Jaco Taute
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