Leinster Lie In Wait

With just four rounds left in the regular season of the Guinness PRO12, and all that’s entailed in qualification for both the PRO12 play-offs and European Champions Cup, there is more at stake than just local rivalries when Munster take on Leinster at the Aviva Stadium this Saturday at 5.30pm.

Leinster already have a seven point advantage over Munster in the chase for a home play-off spot, but will target a win this weekend to keep Scarlets, who are only two points behind them on the PRO12 table, at bay. Munster however have their own play-off ambitions, so the result of this interprovincial has the potential to really alter the dynamics of the top-4.
 
Munster will also keep a keen eye on Friday night’s proceedings at the Kingspan Stadium where Ulster take on Glasgow Warriors.  Both sides lie directly behind and within one point of Foley’s men on the league table while Warriors also hold a game in hand over the rest of the top-6.
 
Leinster have slipped to successive defeats in Glasgow and Connacht and have not scored a try in the PRO12 for 224 minutes.  The Leinstermen have played 14 previous PRO12 matches at the Aviva Stadium, their only defeat being in their most recent encounter against Munster in October 2014.
 
Munster’s only defeat in their last four rounds of the PRO12 came on a visit to Cardiff Blues on March 18^th. The men in red are one of only four sides to have won five away games in the league this season.
 
Leinster defeated Munster 24-7 when the two rivals clashed at Thomond Park on December 27^th but have not achieved a PRO12 season’s double over their provincial counterparts since season 2012/13.  
 
In total, the two have met on seven previous occasions at Aviva Stadium/Lansdowne Road in the PRO12 with Leinster taking the spoils in the first six, including the 2001/02 final but Munster winning 34-23 in Round 5 of last season.
 
Head Coach Anthony Foley will name his side to face Leinster at midday on Friday.
 
Leinster v Munster, Guinness PRO12 Round 19, Saturday April 2^nd at the Aviva Stadium – KO 5.30pm.
 
Referee: Ian Davies (WRU, 44^th competition game)
Assistant Referees: David Wilkinson, Mark Patton (IRFU)
Citing Commissioner: Peter Ferguson (IRFU)
TMO: Simon McDowell (IRFU)