Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Michael Scully

Leinster v Munster teams: Connors and Keenan get the nod to start PRO14 semi-final while Reds make three changes

Will Connors and Hugo Keenan get the nod to start for Leinster against Munster in tomorrow night's PRO14 semi-final - with the Reds making three changes to their pack for the Aviva Stadium clash (7.35pm).

For their third game in 21 days, Munster will go with the same backline and it's one that caused Leinster a lot of problems when the sides met in Irish rugby's restart on August 22, but that resulted in a 27-25 victory for the Blues.

Johann van Graan has made three changes to his pack from last week's victory over Connacht, with prop Stephen Archer, second row Billy Holland and flanker Jack O’Donoghue included.

Holland will link up with Tadhg Beirne, who made an impressive return last week from an ankle injury that had sidelined him since December.

They will not face James Ryan, who had been close to a return after a shoulder operation, in the lineout battle.

Leinster's second rows will be Devin Toner and Scott Fardy, with Ryan Baird on the bench after the Blues lost that fight when the sides last met.

The game has also come too soon for Tadhg Furlong and Dan Leavy, but Connors' impressive defensive display and work in the breakdown last week earns him a start, while Keenan starts on the wing as Jordan Larmour and James Lowe also return to the Blues' back three.

Full-back Mike Haley, who had been absent with a calf injury, returns to the Munster bench as back-up to Shane Daly.  

Leinster:  Jordan Larmour, Hugo Keenan, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe, Johnny Sexton, Luke McGrath; Cian Healy, Ronan Kelleher, Andrew Porter, Devin Toner, Scott Fardy, Caelan Doris, Will Connors, Jack Conan.

Replacements: Sean Cronin, Ed Byrne, Michael Bent, Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier, Jamison-Gibson Park, Ross Byrne, Rory O'Loughlin. 

Munster:  Shane Daly, Andrew Conway, Chris Farrell, Damian de Allende, Keith Earls, JJ Hanrahan, Conor Murray; Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer, Tadhg Beirne, Billy Holland, Peter O’Mahony (C), Jack O’Donoghue, CJ Stander.

Replacements: Kevin O’Byrne, James Cronin, John Ryan, Fineen Wycherley, Chris Cloete, Craig Casey, Rory Scannell, Mike Haley. 

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.