Friday 27 May 2011

Teams Announced for Magners Clash


David Wallace will win his 200thcap as Munster name an unchanged starting XV for Satuirdays' Magners Grand Final clash with European champions Leinster at Thomond Park Stadium .

The teams shows just one change from the squad that saw off Ospreys in the semi final with Johne Murphy named on the bench in place of Simon Zebo.

Wallace, playing in his 17th game of the season becomes just the sixth Munster player to reach the 200th cap mark, having made his debut against Connacht in August 1997 alongside Ronan O'Gara.

There are three changes in all to the starting XV from last weekend's Heineken Cup final with Ireland international Fergus McFadden coming in to partner Brian O'Driscoll at centre.

Jonathan Sexton - who has now scored 228 points in 18 Leinster appearances so far this season - links up with Eoin Reddan at half-back with Luke Fitzgerald, Shane Horgan and Isa Nacewa again named in the back three.

In the pack, Heinke van der Merwe will make his 31stappearance of the season and is one of two forward changes as Shane Jennings comes in to link up with Sean O'Brien and Jamie Heaslip in the back-row.

Leo Cullen skippers the team and starts alongside Scotland's Nathan Hines, while the province can call upon three Ireland internationals off the bench in Cian Healy, Kevin McLaughlin and Devin Toner.

Munster: F Jones; D Howlett, D Barnes, L Mafi, K Earls; R O'Gara, C Murray; M Horan, D Varley, J Hayes; D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell capt; D Ryan, D Wallace, J Coughlan. Replacements: M Sherry, W du Preez, S Archer, D Leamy, N Ronan, P Stringer, P Warwick, J Murphy.

Leinster: I Nacewa; S Horgan; B O'Driscoll; F McFadden; L Fitzgerald; J Sexton; E Reddan; H van der Merwe; R Strauss; M Ross; L Cullen CAPTAIN; NHines; S O'Brien; S Jennings; 8: J Heaslip; Replacements: A Dundon; C Healy; S Wright; D Toner; K McLaughlin; P O'Donohoe; I Madigan; E O'Malley

Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)


No comments: