Irish rugby’s fiercest rivalry reignites at Croke Park on Saturday, 18th October, when Leinster and Munster collide in what should be an enthralling United Rugby Championship clash in the capital.
This weekend’s interprovincial derby isn’t just another fixture; it’s the latest instalment of a saga that has captivated generations of rugby fans in Ireland and beyond.
Leinster and Munster have made contrasting starts to the new URC campaign, though a win in Dublin on Saturday could trigger a massive momentum shift for either club.
Leinster Team Preview
Leinster can prepare for Saturday’s blockbuster with renewed optimism, having finally broken their duck for the new season with a clinical 31-5 dismantling of Sharks in their last outing on 11th October.
Their first two matches of their United Rugby Championship title defence yielded defeat and disappointment, though an early two-game tour of South Africa was always likely to be tricky.
Leinster were annihilated by Stormers (35-0) on matchday one, though showed up better in a narrow loss to Bulls (39-31), before jetting back to Ireland to secure their kick-starting victory over Sharks.
That display showcased Leinster’s sharp attacking edge as well as their smothering defensive capabilities, though both aspects of their game were powered by seasonal debuts for five British and Irish Lions, with their quality boosting performance all over the pitch.
In the post-match media scrum, defence coach Denis Leamy noted that there was “no rust” in the Leinster squad, emphasising their control and tempo throughout their showing against Sharks, despite the reintegration of several international stars.
Squad announcements for Saturday’s meeting with Munster will be formalised on Friday, however, head coach Leo Cullen is likely to unleash a near full-strength XV before another exodus for the Autumn Internationals.
Exciting fly-half Sam Prendergast, who was rested against Sharks to ensure his availability for the derby, is certain to start. The 22-year-old prodigy, who plays with class and composure, scored a try and notched three conversions in Leinster’s last meeting with Munster (28-7) in December last year, and he could be just as influential at Croker.
Winger James Lowe, meanwhile, who was one of the returning Lions against Sharks, was pivotal in Leinster’s 26-12 win over Munster when the rivals last met in Dublin 12 months ago, and the 33-year-old’s explosive carries could be a feature again.
More will be expected from Leinster’s forwards, who rose to the occasion against Sharks with standout efforts from Ryan Baird, Tadhg Furlong, Paddy McCarthy, and Alex Soroka.
There are hopes that Caelan Doris and Hugo Keenan, heroes of previous derbies, might feature despite earlier absences, which would bolster the host’s ball-carrying threat.
Injuries are minimal ahead of Saturday’s bout, a rare luxury for Leinster this season, though there are a couple of concerns. Robbie Henshaw was withdrawn early against Sharks and is a slight doubt, while a final decision on Jordan Larmour will be made before the weekend.
Leinster will enjoy a home advantage at Croke Park and despite slower ticket sales this year, they will hope to have vocal support and energy to harness from the stands.
As massive favourites (1/9) in Leinster vs Munster markets to prevail, the hosts have been heavily backed to win this fixture for the fifth time in a row.
Munster Team Preview
Munster arrive in Dublin brimming with belief following their perfect three-game winning start and sit second in the URC table under new head coach Clayton McMillan.
Their latest victory, a thrilling 20-19 success over an ill-disciplined Edinburgh, highlighted their resilience, though Munster’s tally of four failed conversion attempts against the Scottish outfit was a definite cause for concern.
Munster’s 23-20 win over Cardiff on matchday two was ground out in similarly determined fashion, though more finesse will be required to topple Leinster’s elite pack.
Indeed, assistant coach Stephen Leamy called for sharper work in the breakdown this week, though he also admitted that Munster are still a work in progress under new management.
The Red Army can descend on the capital with a strong squad however, with skipper Tadhg Bernie gearing up for his seasonal debut after some stellar work during the Lions tour of Australia.
At out-half, Jack Crowley should be back in the team, rejuvenated from his rest against Edinburgh last week, while in the centre, Tom Farrell’s form makes him virtually undroppable, with one of Alex Nankivell or Dan Kelly likely to partner.
Scrum-half Craig Casey’s availability is rated as touch-and-go however, while Alex Kendellen remains out for the medium term at least. Updates are expected around Niall Scannell (hand), winger Shane Daly (head) and flanker Tom Ahern later in the week.
Tighthead prop Oli Jager’s fresh head knock against Edinburgh raises further concerns, potentially forcing McMillan to make adjustments in the front row.
Munster will need an edge to upset the odds in Dublin, however, the confidence they’ve gained from their superb early-season results should lift their chances. A win over the defending champions in their own backyard would certainly make a statement, though fears that Munster might be outmuscled at Croke Park aren’t without basis.
H2H Record
Dating back to the 19th century, Leinster’s rivalry with Munster is one of world rugby’s longest-running provincial rivalries and though Leinster have been the dominant force in the derby in the modern era.
Leinster’s 28-7 win over Munster in the teams’ last encounter (Dec 2024), was their fourth successive win over the Red Army and their 14th victory in 16 previous iterations of the fixture overall since 2018.
Munster’s last win over Leinster, sealed by a superb Jack Crowley drop goal, was achieved in their famous 16-15 triumph over their antagonists in the 2022–23 United Rugby Championship semi-finals, during the club’s title-winning run the same season.
Many Irish rugby fans will remember the 2009 Heineken Cup Semi Final between the clubs, which was played out in front of a then-record 82,208 supporters at Croke Park. Leinster’s 25-6 win was considered an upset at the time and in hindsight, represented a major power shift between the rivals.
Last October’s Croke Park meeting drew a record URC crowd of over 80,000, with Leinster’s 26-12 rout featuring tries from Lowe, Doris, Keenan and former Munster star Snyman.
Players to Watch
In a derby this loaded with talent, individual brilliance could well tip the scales. For Leinster, keep your eyes peeled for these three standouts, all of whom have the talent to shine.
We start with Sam Prendergast at fly-half: His vision and kicking game could dictate tempo. Leo Cullen’s decision to rest him against Sharks points to his importance for Leinster.
James Lowe is a try-scoring machine from the flank in big games. Back from Lions Duty against the Sharks, he should be even sharper on Saturday and his aerial prowess and snappy offloads made him such a menace against Munster last year.
Elsewhere, Josh van der Flier is also worth tracking closely. A flanker whose work rate at the breakdown is relentless, the 32-year-old’s physical attributes should allow him to make a big impact, just like he did for the Lions in Australia.
Munster have their own trio of threats to counter Leinster’s. Jack Crowley, the magical match-winner in 2023, is the conductor and the 25-year-old seems to thrive in chaos and on the big occasion.
Tadhg Beirne, the lock captain, is Munster’s heartbeat and will make his post-Lions seasonal debut on Saturday. His lineout dominance and ball-carrying prowess will test Leinster’s set-piece.
Finally, Irish international Tom Farrell could also define the narrative. His footwork and offloads have been unlocking plenty of defences this season, and he will be looking for gaps to exploit in Leicester’s lines.
Our Expert Predictions
Munster’s early-season unbeaten run has been admirable, with their gritty qualities shining through in a trio of bonus-points scraps, though a test against a Leicester side armed with returning Lions promises to be much stiffer.
With their star turns back in the fold, Leinster flexed their muscle with a clinical display against Sharks last time out, which suggests they should be ready to maintain their upward swing at Munster’s expense.
The Prendergast vs Crowley head-to-head at fly half should provide a compelling subplot, and though the final scoreline might be close, Leinster are backed to make home advantage count on Saturday.
Leinster’s record in this fixture is too difficult to dismiss, though they might not be able to match the 21-point winning gap they established in their last tussle with Munster.
It’s still early days under new head coach Clayton McMillan, however, the Red Army have shown resolve in the campaign’s early exchanges and might have enough about them to make the most of a +15.5 point handicap, which is available to back at just shy of even money with TonyBet.
For those eyeing alternative markets, keep tabs on the latest odds at Tonybet. We have competitive lines on try-scorers, team points markets and much for Leinster’s clash with Munster.
