Leinster v Munster: Provincial rivals battle for URC points at the Aviva Stadium

Ryan Baird of Leinster before the URC clash with Munster at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin

Hello and welcome to the Irish Independent's live coverage of the URC clash of Leinster v Munster at the Aviva Stadium (kick-off 6pm).

There's a storm raging - Storm Boelo, to be precise - and it remains to be seen if it will be equally squally, blustery and tempestuous on the Lansdowne Road pitch, and if the close to 40,000 crowd that had been predicted will brave the elements.

Last year's meeting of the bitter rivals in Dublin is a reference point, of course it is, given that Munster picked up a rare victory in the capital when the sides met at a sell-out Croke Park.

However, Leinster aren't in the same strange place they were in the early stages of last term, and Leo Cullen has made a statement by naming a strong line-up.

Both provinces have started the season in promising fashion, so this will be a lithmus test of where they really stand ahead of the international break.

Here are the teams...

Leinster: Hugo Keenan; Tommy O'Brien, Jamie Osborne, Robbie Henshaw, Jimmy O’Brien; Joey Carbery, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong; Joe McCarthy, James Ryan; Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier, Dan Sheehan (capt).

Replacements: Gus McCarthy, Alex Usanov, Thomas Clarkson, Conor O’Tighearnaigh, Scott Penny, Fintan Gunne, Caspar Gabriel, Charlie Tector.

Munster: Ben O'Connor; Shay McCarthy, Seán O'Brien, Alex Nankivell, Shane Daly; Charlie O’Shea, Craig Casey; Josh Wycherley, Marnus van der Merwe, Kieran Brookes; Fineen Wycherley, Tadhg Beirne (capt); Jack O’Donoghue, Alex Kendellen, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Max Clein, Mark Donnelly, Michael Ala’alatoa, Seán Edogbo, Brian Gleeson, Ben O’Donovan, JJ Hanrahan, Gordon Wood.

You may like

Big match preview: Andy Farrell has handed Clayton McMillan the perfect team talk but Munster nee...

WXV Global Series - South Africa host Ireland in Cape Town

Leinster awaiting citing commissioner report as Munster claim to have clear footage to back up al...

Leinster’s ultimate shape-shifter: Why Dan Sheehan is Leo Cullen’s new No 8

Australia call up son of World Cup winner Wilson

Leinster fight back to beat Munster in URC derby

'Excellent' Sheehan and 'nervous' Carbery - Leinster reaction

Australia come back to beat Scotland again in WXV

Glasgow recover 17-point deficit to beat Benetton