Big guns return for Leinster for Croke Park showdown with Munster
Michael Bolton
Leinster's British and Irish Lions players make their return to the side as they take on Munster in Croke Park on Saturday.
Leo Cullen has made seven changes to the side that defeated the Sharks last Saturday, with Sam Prendergast returning to start at fly-half.
Jack Conan returns to captain the side at number eight, and is joined in the back row by Josh Van Der Flier and Alex Soroka.
James Ryan starts in the second row with RG Snyman, who returns after winning the Rugby Championship with South Africa.
After being named in the Ireland squad for the November internationals, Paddy McCarthy joins Ronán Kelleher and Tadhg Furlong in the front row.
Jamie Osborne starts in full back, with Tommy O'Brien to make his 50th cap for the province.
Leinster confirmed Harry Byrne misses out through injury, with Ciarán Frawley providing the cover for the backs in a 6/2 split among the replacements.
For Munster, Jack Crowley starts at out-half, with scrum-half Craig Casey still out with injury.
Tadhg Beirne returns to captain Munster in the back row, with Edwin Edogbo and Fineen Wycherley in the second row.
In 10 changes to the side that defeated Edinburgh last Friday, Dan Kelly partners Tom Farrell in the centre.
Shane Daly is named at full-back, with Andrew Smith and Thaakir Abrahams on the wings.
Leinster: Jamie Osborne; Tommy O’Brien, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Paddy McCarthy, Rónan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong; RG Snyman, James Ryan; Alex Soroka, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan.
Replacements: Dan Sheehan, Andrew Porter, Thomas Clarkson, Brian Deeny, Max Deegan, Scott Penny, Fintan Gunne, Ciarán Frawley.
Munster: Shane Daly; Andrew Smith, Tom Farrell, Dan Kelly, Thaakir Abrahams; Jack Crowley, Ethan Coughlan; Michael Milne, Diarmuid Barron, John Ryan; Edwin Edogbo, Fineen Wycherley; Tadhg Beirne - captain, Jack O’Donoghue, Brian Gleeson.
Replacements: Lee Barron, Jeremy Loughman, Ronan Foxe, Jean Kleyn, Gavin Coombes, Paddy Patterson, JJ Hanrahan, Alex Nankivell.