Leinster & Munster draw swords once again at the Aviva

The Leinster/Munster rivalry is one that has been observed with regularity over the past couple of years, but the occasion remains one of significant magnitude.  

This time around, the high-flying Leinster have elected to rest a number of big names so as to keep them fresh for the imminent Heineken Champions Cup final against La Rochelle in Dublin. 

Leinster’s last action in the URC saw them fall to the Stormers in Cape Town on 30 April: 

Meanwhile, Munster dominated Cardiff at Musgrave Park: 

It has been a tough couple of weeks for Munster who were booted out of the Champions Cup on 7 May as their quarter-final encounter with Toulouse was decided by penalty shoot-out. However, Johann van Graan has indicated that they have put the unfortunate episode behind them and are ready to grab the next challenge with both hands. 

“In terms of morale and momentum we're in a good place,” van Graan said, speaking to independent.ie.  

“We felt we played really well against Toulouse, it was an excellent game of rugby and we had opportunities to win it in 80, to win it in the 100. Some opportunities we used, and some we didn't.  

“We got knocked out by virtue of a kick. Morale and momentum is certainly on a very positive side in terms of us as a club.  

“In terms of the game at the weekend, it's the last round of the league, and it's big for all teams. What's at stake for us is if we can get enough points out of the weekend and get a home quarter-final at Thomond Park, it's something we targeted at the start of the season. It's something we'd like to do, but we have to go to Dublin and do it, which is no easy task. 

Responding to suggestions that Leinster will be resting a string of top players, van Graan said: 

“I can't speak on their behalf, all I will say is they aren't URC champions for nothing.  

“It's Munster versus Leinster in the Aviva, so we expect a massive game and it'll be a tightly contested encounter.  

"You've just got to look at the performances (in South Africa), they were over the try line in the game against the Sharks in Durban, and they came up just short against the Stormers in Cape Town.  

“Whatever team they select will be a tough game for us. We're playing away at the Aviva on Saturday.  

"We've got to focus only on this game.  

“We've got a week off next week so we're going to put out our best available side. We've got to go to Dublin and play against the current champions in the URC.  

"We obviously want to play at Thomond Park for the quarter-final, so we've got to go and make sure we perform and hopefully get the points to put ourselves in that position.  

"In terms of the other teams, if you don't get the points, you might have to go to Belfast or you might have to go to Cape Town or Durban or Pretoria. You'd much rather stay in Limerick so what a good weekend for the URC to look forward to." 

Leo Cullen is wary of the challenge ahead but has kept the faith in his troops. 

“We want to put on a big performance. There are different layers in the group. You have guys like Johnny (Sexton) who has experienced lots of positive memories and a few tricky ones along the way, as we all have, and then there is a younger group that is striving for success for the first time. 

“We’ll have some players that are desperate to put their hand up, that’s what we want to see from them. 

“So that’s the thing that’s probably occupying most of my thoughts at the moment, is getting ready for a (Munster) team that we know are very ambitious to be very successful as well.”