No Prendergast-Crowley duel in Thomond as Munster and Leinster name teams
Munster's Champions Clash Picture: Cup Burns Stade The During Seb Francais Daly/sportsfile With Billy
There will be no Jack Crowley and Sam Prendergast showdown when Munster host Leinster at Thomond Park on Friday evening with the Munster No.10 rested in accordance with the IRFU’s player welfare protocols.
It’s a huge disappointment for supporters who were eager to see Ireland’s top two out-halves go at it in a URC Christmas interpro after Prendergast usurped his older colleague in the pecking order with Andy Farrell’s Ireland during the November Test window.
Prendergast will start for Leinster in Limerick having been left out for last week’s defeat of Connacht at the Aviva Stadium, but Billy Burns gets the nod as Munster’s playmaker with Tony Butler providing back-up off the bench.
Munster have made seven changes in all to the side that claimed a dramatic late win away to Belfast last Friday with captain Tadhg Beirne, Rory Scannell, Billy Burns, Ethan Coughlan, Dian Bleuler, Oli Jager and Alex Kendellen all coming in.
There is also a positional switch for Tom Ahern as he moves to the back row.
Bleuler has completed return-to-play protocols to make his fourth start at loosehead prop with Niall Scannell and Oli Jager completing the front row but Peter O’Mahony (calf contusion), Conor Murray (elbow) and Jack O’Donoghue (shoulder) were unavailable for selection.
Leinster have named a very strong side and squad in the hope that they can bag a sixth successive win in Limerick and an eleventh win on the trot in a season where they remain undefeated despite some patchy form.
A clutch of star Ireland players are back in the side this week, not least Ireland captain Calean Doris at No.8. Also back on board are Josh van der Flier, James Ryan, Joe McCarthy, Ronan Kelleher, Robbie Henshaw, Garry Ringrose and Jamie Osborne.
The last of those returns from injury and starts at full-back.
Andrew Porter and Jordan Larmour will start on the bench as Leo Cullen mixes and matches his resources with Jordie Barrett, RG Snyman, Jack Conan and Jamison Gibson-Park all among those given this weekend off.
“It’s a very tough place to go," said Leinster assistant coach Robin McBryde.
"It’s a sell-out I hear so that will certainly add to the atmosphere. It’s always a battle down there.
"It’s one of those games you want to be involved in as a player and as a coach because you get to test yourself against one of the top teams in front of a vociferous crowd. That’s where you find out about yourself.
"We’re not expecting anything different this time. It will be hostile, but that’s great. The supporters will be left with a good experience and having felt that they contributed to the event. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Mike Haley, Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Rory Scannell, Shane Daly, Billy Burns, Ethan Coughlan, Dian Bleuler, Niall Scannell, Oli Jager, Fineen Wycherley, Tadhg Beirne (CAPT), Tom Ahern, Alex Kendellen, Gavin Coombes
Diarmuid Barron, Kieran Ryan, John Ryan, Brian Gleeson, John Hodnett, Paddy Patterson, Tony Butler, Ben O'Connor
Jamie Osborne, Tommy O’Brien, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, Jimmy O’Brien, Sam Prendergast, Luke McGrath, Jack Boyle, Ronan Kelleher, Rabah Slimani, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan, Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris (CAPT)
Lee Barron, Andrew Porter, Cian Healy, Brian Deeny, Scott Penny, Fintan Gunne, Ross Byrne, Jordan Larmour