Leinster and Munster name teams for St Stephen’s Day showdown

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has named an experimental team to face Munster in Thomond Park on St Stephen's Day in the Pro14.

While Munster head Coach Johann van Graan has made four changes to the side that defeated Leicester in the Champions Cup last weekend for the sold-out interprovincial derby.

Leinster academy back Jordan Larmour makes his first senior start against Munster from fullback with Barry Daly returning from ankle injury to take his place on the right wing.

On the left wing new signing James Lowe makes his second appearance in blue after his two-try debut in Italy a few weeks ago.

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Robbie Henshaw and Rory O'Loughlin are selected in the centre together for the second time this season. They last started a game together in the centre in the corresponding fixture at the Aviva Stadium in October. O'Loughlin scored two tries in that game.

Jamison Gibson-Park and Ross Byrne are the half backs for the Round 11 clash.

In the pack Jack McGrath captains the side for the first time ever. The St Mary's club man who has played 121 times for Leinster and 42 times for Ireland is joined in the front row by fellow internationals James Tracy and Michael Bent.

In the second row Devin Toner and James Ryan will start with Jordi Murphy, Dan Leavy and Jack Conan completing the pack.

Returning to the Munster team from the Leicester win are Rhys Marshall and Andrew Conway - with both players successfully completing their return to play protocols after picking up injuries in the first leg of their European ties with the English Premiership club.

Keith Earls and Tommy O'Donnell are also named to start for the first time since facing Connacht in round seven.

In the back three, Earls takes the place of Alex Wootton on the wing while Conway replaces Simon Zebo at fullback, joining Darren Sweetnam who once again retains the number 14 jersey.

The midfield paring of Rory Scannell and Sammy Arnold, and half backs of Conor Murray and Ian Keatley are as they were.

O’Donnell completes an international back row that includes last week’s try scorer CJ Stander and captain Peter O’Mahony who becomes the latest player to make 100 appearances for the province.

Kleyn and Holland continue their second row partnership as Marshall joins the unchanged props of Dave Kicoyne and Stephen Archer.

Named in the replacements is James Cronin who is returning from a calf injury sustained while playing for the Barbarians against Tonga in November.

With additional seating put in place and an increased capacity of 26,267, all tickets have now been sold for the encounter (which has also been nominated as Munster’s official “Charity Match” in aid of the province's charity partner, Irish heart Foundation, and €1 from each match programme sold on St Stephen’s Day will be donated to the charity).

Munster: Andrew Conway; Darren Sweetnam, Sammy Arnold, Rory Scannell, Keith Earls; Ian Keatley, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Rhys Marshall, Stephen Archer; Jean Kleyn, Billy Holland; Peter O'Mahony (c), Tommy O'Donnell, CJ Stander.

Replacements: Niall Scannell, James Cronin, John Ryan, Darren O'Shea, Jack O'Donoghue, Duncan Williams, JJ Hanrahan, Simon Zebo.

Leinster: Jordan Larmour; Barry Daly, Rory O'Loughlin, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe; Ross Byrne, Jamison Gibson-Park; Jack McGrath (capt); James Tracy, Michael Bent; Devin Toner, James Ryan; Jordi Murphy, Dan Leavy, Jack Conan.

Replacements: Richardt Strauss, Ed Byrne, Tadhg Furlong, Mick Kearney, Josh van der Flier, Nick McCarthy, Cathal Marsh, Noel Reid.

Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU).