Munster v Leinster: There were few eyebrows raised as Tony McGahan and Michael Cheika revealed their hands for tomorrow's Heineken Cup semi-final at Croke Park. As expected, Peter Stringer comes in for the defending champions while Isa Nacewa will start for the challengers.
Both changes from the quarter-final line-ups have been enforced on the respective coaches with Tomas O’Leary (broken ankle) and Rob Kearney (mumps) not available for selection.
Nacewa’s inclusion at fullback leaves the veteran Irish international Girvan Dempsey on the replacement’s bench as Shane Horgan comes in on the right wing.
CJ van der Linde lost his bid to prove his fitness and the South African prop will be forced to watch on from the stands. Sean O’Brien’s try-scoring exploits last weekend were good enough only for a place among the subs while Simon Keogh will provide cover at scrumhalf.
McGahan’s team, with the exception of the vastly experienced Stringer (who will be making his 170th appearance for the province), has an ominously familiar look to it and Munster will start as overwhelming favourites tomorrow evening (5.30pm kick-off).
Munster: P Warwick, D Howlett, K Earls, L Mafi, I Dowling, P Stringer, R O'Gara, M Horan, J Flannery, J Hayes, D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell capt, A Quinlan, D Wallace, D Leamy. Replacements: D Fogarty, T Buckley, M O'Driscoll, N Ronan, M Prendergast, B Murphy, D Hurley
Leinster: I Nacewa; S Horgan, B O'Driscoll, G D'Arcy, L Fitzgerald; F Contepomi, C Whitaker; C Healy, B Jackman, S Wright; L Cullen, M O'Kelly; R Elsom, S Jennings. J Heaslip. Replacements: J Fogarty, R McCormack, D Toner, S O'Brien, S Keogh, J Sexton, G Dempsey.
