Thomond Set For Christmas Cracker

The traditional round of festive derbies take place over the Christmas period with Munster welcoming Leinster to Thomond Park on Sunday December 27th – KO 5.15pm. Read the form guide and get the thoughts of captain CJ Stander ahead of this eagerly anticipated interprovincial.

Interprovincial rivalry here in Ireland takes on added impetus as all four provinces sit second to fifth on the PRO12 table, and with an eye on both the league play-offs and qualification for the European Champions Cup next season, the results of these games will be even more crucial than usual.

Whilst the festive derbies may provide a highlight of the holidays for many fans, the players know that the serious business of winning games, especially when they are against your fiercest local adversaries, is what this time of year is all about.

Munster have lost their last two matches in the Guinness PRO12 since beating Edinburgh at Murrayfield on November 7^th with their home loss to Connacht in Round 8 ending a seven game unbeaten run in the PRO12 at Thomond Park.

Leinster lie in fourth on the PRO12 table – one place and one league point adrift of Munster – and in accumulating 27 league points from their first eight games have made their best ever start to a PRO12 campaign. Their only defeat in the last seven rounds came on a trip to Scarlets in October.

Both sides will have a serious point to prove this Sunday having suffered consecutive European Champions Cup defeats in the past fortnight, while Leinster will also hope for a better return from their trips to the Irish provinces after losing all three away games at Munster, Connacht and Ulster last season, doing so for the first time since 2003/04.

In previewing this weekend’s clash, captain CJ Stander commented, “As a team we are obviously disappointed by the results over the last few weeks, but I think there were a lot of improvements last weekend (against Leicester) and that will give us some confidence. We know we have to be better, and we will be doing everything we can to make the right adjustments ahead of this game against Leinster. Being more clinical in the right areas of the pitch is something we have to focus on, and making sure that we finish off good work with scores.

“Leinster are a great side, who, like ourselves, haven’t perhaps been getting the results they want over the last few weeks. If anything, this makes for an exciting prospect as both sides want to get back to winning ways. We are both in the top 4 of the league and a win would certainly help to push towards the top of the table as we head into the start of 2016. I have played against Leinster four times and they have been really tough matches, and I would expect nothing less for this game.”

Munster V Leinster, Guinness PRO12 Round 10, Sunday December 27^th at Thomond Park – KO 5.15pm.

Over 21,000 tickets have now been sold for this game. Looking for the perfect last minute Christmas present or the ideal activity with family and friends over the festive period? Book your tickets for Munster v Leinster now.

• Adults from €;20
• Students from €;10
• Families from €;60 (2 adults & 2 juniors – additional junior tickets can be added from €;10 each by calling 021 4323737)

Purchase tickets online here, from the Munster Rugby Ticket Offices at Thomond Park and Irish Independent Park, or by calling 0818 719 300.

Referee: David Wilkinson (IRFU, 36th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Sean Gallagher, Stuart Gaffikin (both IRFU)
Citing Commissioner: Eddie Walsh (IRFU)
TMO: Simon McDowell (IRFU)