Carlow connections as Leinster take on Munster in Croke Park
Sam Prendergast will start at fly half for Leinster against Munster. Photo: ©INPHO/Steve Haag Sports/Christiaan Kotze
The eyes of the rugby world will be fixed on Croke Park this Saturday, as one of the sport's biggest games takes place.
There aren't too many rugby fixtures that can attract over 50,000 fans, let alone a club game, let alone a regular-season club game.
But this is no ordinary game. This is a game widely considered to be the biggest derby in club rugby anywhere in the world.
Nothing will be won, lost or decided on Saturday, yet the very fact that Leinster are playing Munster makes this game one of rugby's premier occasions.
Carlow's Stephen Smyth is yet to make an appearance for the province in this season's URC, but there will nevertheless be Carlow connections when the two sides take to the hallowed turf.
Sam Prendergast, who's mother is from Carlow, will start in the Leinster number 10 jersey as he continues his rivalry with opposite number, Jack Crowley.
Also of Carlow parentage is Andrew Porter, who lines out on the bench as he continues to recover from his summer away in Australia with the Lions.
Leinster began the URC with back-to-back defeats in South Africa, falling to the Stormers and then the Bulls - the first time since 2003 that the province have opened their season with consecutive losses in the competition.
Leo Cullen steered the ship back on course at the Aviva last week with a 31-5 win over another South African side, the Sharks.
Munster, conversely, have made a brilliant start to their season, winning all three games under new Head Coach Clayton McMillan as they beat Scarlets, Cardiff and Edinburgh.
Despite their opposing starts to the season, Leinster go into the game as massive 12/1 favourites, while Munster are available at 7/1.
Leinster won both meetings of these two sides last season, and the season before, with Munster's last win over the blues coming in the 2023 URC semi-finals.
That was one of only two Munster wins in the last 16 meetings of these two proud teams, with Leinster dominating in recent years.
Live coverage and buildup of the game begins on TG4 at 4.30pm and on Premier Sports at 5pm.
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 (C).
Dan Sheehan, Andrew Porter, Thomas Clarkson, Brian Deeny, Max Deegan, Scott Penny, Fintan Gunne, Ciarán Frawley.
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 (C), Jack O’Donoghue, Brian Gleeson.
Lee Barron, Jeremy Loughman, Ronan Foxe, Jean Kleyn, Gavin Coombes, Paddy Patterson, JJ Hanrahan, Alex Nankivell.
