Preview: Leinster vs Munster

The province upset the odds to defeat Glasgow becoming the first away side to beat Warriors at home this season.

This is Munster’s fifth away game on the bounce after trips to Durban, Cape Town, Durban (again) and Glasgow.

Did you know?

:: The last time Leinster were defeated by an Irish province in the semi-final of any competition was in the Heineken Champions Cup in 2006 with Munster winning 30-6 at Aviva Stadium.

:: Leinster have played 27 previous URC fixtures at Aviva Stadium with their only defeat there being 34-23 to Munster in October 2014.

:: Leinster’s only loss in their last 11 fixtures against Munster since 2018 was 27-3 at the RDS Arena in the Rainbow Cup in April 2021. They have won their last eight clashes at Aviva Stadium.

:: Munster have lost just one of their last nine URC matches - 38-26 at home to Glasgow Warriors in Round 16.

:: The Munstermen have not been beaten away from home in the championship since their defeat to Leinster at Aviva Stadium last October.

:: Munster have lost their last five semi-final matches in all competitions since beating Ospreys 23-3 in Limerick in 2017 and won only once at Aviva Stadium since 2014.

URC record 2022/23: Leinster (W16 D1 L1 = 79 points); Munster (W10 D1 L7 = 55 points)

Form guide: Leinster (WWDWLW); Munster (WWLWDW)

Top try scorer: Leinster (Rob Russell - 10); Munster (Gavin Coombes - 10)

Top points scorer: Leinster (Ross Byrne - 69); Munster (Joey Carbery - 92)

Team line-ups

Leinster: Jimmy O’Brien, Tommy O’Brien, Robbie Henshaw, Charlie Ngatai, Dave Kearney, Harry Byrne, Luke McGrath (captain), Michael Milne, Rónan Kelleher, Michael Ala’alatoa, Ryan Baird, Jason Jenkins, Max Deegan, Will Connors, Jack Conan.

Replacements: John McKee, Cian Healy, Thomas Clarkson, Joe McCarthy, Josh van der Flier, Nick McCarthy, Ciarán Frawley, Liam Turner.

Munster: Mike Haley, Keith Earls, Antoine Frisch, Jack Crowley, Shane Daly, Ben Healy, Craig Casey, Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron, Stephen Archer, Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne, Peter O'Mahony (captain), John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.                   

Replacements: Niall Scannell, Josh Wycherley, Roman Salanoa, Fineen Wycherley, Jack O'Donoghue, Neil Cronin, Rory Scannell, Alex Kendellen.