Leinster 16 Munster 16

MUNSTER HAD already won the interprovincial championship when they pitched up to Donnybrook to play their final game but were hoping to back it up with successive Grand Slams in the tournament. However in the first half it was Leinster who looked like they would ease to victory as they led 13-3 at the interval.

Leinster outhalf Eddie Hekenui kicked two early penalties to Jeremy Staunton’s one before Gordon D’Arcy, playing on the left wing, scored the first try. Hekenui converted but Munster were back in the game soon after the restart thanks to a try from Australian international secondrow John Langford which Staunton improved upon. The New Zealander Hekenui posted a third penalty – he would miss a chance in injury time to win the game – but Munster maintained their unbeaten run thanks to a brace of similar scores from Killian Keane, one of which was from the halfway line.

There are potentially 11 players from that night who could be in action tonight: Girvan Dempsey, Shane Horgan, Gordon D’Arcy, Malcolm O’Kelly, Marcus Horan, John Hayes, Mick O’Driscoll, Alan Quinlan and David Wallace.

Munster’s Donncha O’Callaghan and Peter Stringer came on as replacements as did Leinster’s Leo Cullen but the latter will miss tonight’s match through injury.

LEINSTER:G Dempsey; D Hickie, P McKenna, S Horgan, G D'Arcy; E Hekenui, B O'Meara; E Byrne, S Byrne, G Halpin; B Casey, M O'Kelly; E Miler, L Toland, V Costello.

MUNSTER:D Crotty; J O'Neill, J Kelly, K Keane, A Horgan; J Staunton, T Tierney; M Horan, F Sheahan, J Hayes; M O'Driscoll, J Langford; A Quinlan, D Wallace, A Foley.

Referee:D McHugh (Munster).