PRO14 Championship Final - Leinster v Munster - RDS, 27 Mar 5pm.

So the two teams that are top of their conferences in terms of wins and points accumulated go head-to-head again for title honours.

For Munster, it's been over a decade since they won silverware beating Leinster in the 2010/11 season.

Van Graan has welcomed back about 7 internationals who will be available to play this coming weekend, including Murray, Farrell, Stander, O'Mahony, Earls, Beirne and Casey. Dave Kilcoyne is carrying a head head knock so may be out of the running.  

Whilst they have a European game coming up the following week, Munster will be heavily motivated to go all out to win the title, with Joey Carbery likely to start the final.

Leinster, on the other hand, are seeking their fourth back-to-back title, and have a few players missing for selection including Ringrose, Ryan, and Connors. Cian Kelleher, Jimmy O'Brien, Doris, Leavy, Deegan and Conor O'Brien are also out.

For once, Munster may have the upper hand, not least because test players such as O'Mahony and Murray will be more rested than the likes of Henshaw, Keenan or Sexton.

TEAMS
Leinster: Hugo Keenan; Jordan Larmour, Rory O’Loughlin, Robbie Henshaw, Dave Kearney; Ross Byrne, Luke McGrath (capt); Cian Healy, Rónan Kelleher, Andrew Porter; Devin Toner, Scott Fardy; Rhys Ruddock, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan.

Replacements: James Tracy, Ed Byrne, Tadhg Furlong, Ross Molony, Ryan Baird, Jamison Gibson-Park, Johnny Sexton, James Lowe.

Munster: Mike Haley; Andrew Conway, Chris Farrell, Damian de Allende, Keith Earls; Joey Carbery, Conor Murray; James Cronin, Niall Scannell, John Ryan; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne; Gavin Coombes, Peter O’Mahony (capt), CJ Stander.

Replacements: Kevin O’Byrne, Dave Kilcoyne, Stephen Archer, Billy Holland, Jack O’Donoghue, Craig Casey, JJ Hanrahan, Rory Scannell.

Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU).

TV: EirSport, Premier Sport, TG4

Pot Hale wrote:So the two clearly outstanding teams in terms of wins and points accumulated go head-to-head again for title honours.

I think you need to visit the tables.
Ulster won the same number of games as Munster, had the same number of Bonus Points and a better Points difference than Munster.
Ulster won the head to Head, Ulster only lost to one team all season - Leinster

The only reason Munster have made the final instead of Ulster is because Leinster were not in their conference

geoff999rugby wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:So the two clearly outstanding teams in terms of wins and points accumulated go head-to-head again for title honours.

I think you need to visit the tables.
Ulster won the same number of games as Munster, had the same number of Bonus Points and a better Points difference than Munster.
Ulster won the head to Head, Ulster only lost to one team all season - Leinster

The only reason Munster have made the final instead of Ulster is because Leinster were not in their conference

You're quite right Geoff. I shall amend my OP accordingly.

Think everyone wants Munster to win. It's not good for the league to have Leinster dominate.

Looking at the Pro 14 team stats makes nice reading if you are an Ulster fan https://www.pro14.rugby/statistics
1st or 2nd in nearly every measure. Only one that is disappointing is discipline.

The stats clearly show the two best teams in the league were Leinster and Ulster.

Conference A has the easier teams other then Leinster so that needs to be taken into account aswell. But Ulster are unlucky there is no semis. Munster are the only team in the league to get 100% wins against all the teams in their Conference so rightly there. At least next year with the round robin the fight between Ulster and Munster will be the most interesting of races as it will most likely be neck and neck the whole season.

Munster have been knocked out by Leinster the last few years so at least they are in the final. I don't care how they win, ref can be as blind as a bat or the a pinball try at the death but they must win. Otherwise players will start to believe they will never win.

Over the last few games Munster have closed the gap.  I remember a bunch of kids coming to Thomond and winning comfortable.  Over the last 2-3 games it has been much tighter with Munster unable to see out the game rather then Leinster dominating.

Still think Leinster will win though because Ospreys ruined any lazy or over confidence Leinster might have had so it will be a fully focused team taking the field and only 3-4 teams at most in Europe can beat them like that.

Teams announced.

Most of the big names either starting or on the bench. Good to see.

Brendan wrote:Conference A has the easier teams other then Leinster so that needs to be taken into account aswell.  But Ulster are unlucky there is no semis.  Munster are the only team in the league to get 100% wins against all the teams in their Conference so rightly there. At least next year with the round robin the fight between Ulster and Munster will be the most interesting of races as it will most likely be neck and neck the whole season.

Munster have been knocked out by Leinster the last few years so at least they are in the final.  I don't care how they win, ref can be as blind as a bat or the a pinball try at the death but they must win.  Otherwise players will start to believe they will never win.

Conf A hasn't had the easier teams, replace Connacht with Leinster and the points total in conf B would drop by 20 points, and it has the worst team in the league in it as well. The top team in Conf B only loses were against conf A teams reinforcing it as the tougher conference.
Munster topped conf B so are rightly in the final, nothing to do with 100% wins against teams in their conference.

You say that you think Munster and Ulster are equal, but other comments suggest you dont really mean it. You think Ulster are about 8-10 in Europe, but I doubt you think Munster are 8-10th.

In truth Ulster fans have only been saying its about even between the two teams, to flatter Munster fans

Pot Hale wrote:Teams announced.  

Most of the big names either starting or on the bench.   Good to see.

Two very strong teams named which is great to see, can't wait for this. I'm sure our favourite Welsh poster will be along any minute to tell us how Sexton being on the bench devalues the league though.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:Teams announced.  

Most of the big names either starting or on the bench.   Good to see.

Two very strong teams named which is great to see, can't wait for this. I'm sure our favourite Welsh poster will be along any minute to tell us how Sexton being on the bench devalues the league though.

I doubt he knows it's on - hopefully.

Kingshu wrote:

Brendan wrote:Conference A has the easier teams other then Leinster so that needs to be taken into account aswell.  But Ulster are unlucky there is no semis.  Munster are the only team in the league to get 100% wins against all the teams in their Conference so rightly there. At least next year with the round robin the fight between Ulster and Munster will be the most interesting of races as it will most likely be neck and neck the whole season.

Munster have been knocked out by Leinster the last few years so at least they are in the final.  I don't care how they win, ref can be as blind as a bat or the a pinball try at the death but they must win.  Otherwise players will start to believe they will never win.

Conf A hasn't had the easier teams, replace Connacht with Leinster and the points total in conf B would drop by 20 points, and it has the worst team in the league in it as well. The top team in Conf B only loses were against conf A teams reinforcing it as the tougher conference.
Munster topped conf B so are rightly in the final, nothing to do with 100% wins against teams in their conference.

You say that you think Munster and Ulster are equal, but other comments suggest you dont really mean it. You think Ulster are about 8-10 in Europe, but I doubt you think Munster are 8-10th.

In truth Ulster fans have only been saying its about even between the two teams, to flatter Munster fans  

Ulster are equal to Munster in the match day 23.  Squad not so much which is why I do feel Munster just about have the edge when it comes to Europe.  Ulster still can have the silly losses that Munster don't seem to have.  When the chips are down though both seem to bottle it which is why both teams are fighting over leftovers.

I have said previously that Ulster had passed Munster but I think Munster have a slight edge now with the players coming through.  You can look at who ended whose runs over the last few years but Christmas derbies aren't the barometer they once were. Next year with the round-robin in expect Munster and Ulster to finish within 3pts of each other and not knowing who will be ahead.

Leinster, Sarries, Exeter, Stade, Toulouse are all better. Bristol, Clermont, Munster, Ulster are probably the next 4 in no particular order. Apart from Bristrol the other 3 along with Stade have bottled to many big matches which is why they aren't viewed the same as Sarries and Leinster.

Regarding Conferences.  Scarlets are clearly the best Welsh team.  Blues are clearly stronger than Dragons.
Connacht lost 8 games only two to Conference A sides.  Zebre and Dragons from what I can see got all their wins v Conference A sides or Benetton.
Edinbrugh and Glasgow are about the same.

Both are strong 15s but would have to feel that the Leinster bench is stronger and will see out any lead when they come on.  As a result Munster probably need to be leading on the hour mark.

Lots of internationals on show and will be interested to see how Conway, Larmour and Lowe get on having been dropped from the Irish team/Squad.  Also want to see Lowe's body language now he is back with Leinster.

Backrow will be tight and will probably come down to who plays the ref best.  Munster have to win the breakdown if they are to win the game, if they aren't in the ascendance by 20mins I don't think they will do it.

Sadly I think Leinster by 7pts

Great to see Carbery back for this fixture.

I'm not confident on a munster win. I think they'll find a way to blow it.

Leinster on top in the opening 10.
Have to feel they are looking to avoid previous mistakes where they let Munster build a small lead.

Leinster started like a train, but Munster hanging in by their fingernails

6-3 Leinster

It's a high tempo game as you would expect. Munster just losing it at key moments.

Munster Scrum seems to be just holding on

Leinster are absolutely dominating this and yet they have a very small lead on the scoreboard. Can Munster stay in the game?

Big moment for Munster to get that

BigGee wrote:Leinster are absolutely dominating this and yet they have a very small lead on the scoreboard. Can Munster stay in the game?

No in short

De Allende is more in the ruck cleaning out than in the backline

Well done Earls

That is the third clear chance that Leinster have made a mess of, they are not taking their chances

Holding out till half time will be great for Munster.  Leinster going up a gear

Almost but should have gone to the corner

Larmour has had a few mistakes though unlucky with that one.

Earls definitely fended with his forearm to the throat there. There’s been a few red cards for that in recent weeks. How no officials or commentators saw it is beyond me. McGrath could have made a deal out of it and drew attention. I respect that he didn’t. But inconsistent refereeing annoys me badly.

Carberry misses an easy one

Should be 6 all at HT

At least Munster are playing into the wind so will have the wind in the second half

Well he gets another crack, surely he will get this one

BigGee wrote:Carberry misses an easy one

Should be 6 all at HT

There seems a bit of wind if you look at the players hair

6 all as predicted

Munster don't really deserve that but they are still in the game.

6-6 better then Munster deserve but they are holding on with a bit of luck.

Stats not good reading for Munster.
Possession 66 v 33
17 mins tackles for Munster

Leinster Bench going to be taking it up another level on the hour.

Munster bash the line and go backwards. It will be a long half

And the scrum breaks

Second time Munster have held them up

Jack Conan gets the score.

Let's see what Munster respond with. Must score next

Leinster score and O'Mahoney takes a bad one and hobbles off

Not looking good for Munster

New frontrows

Another poor miss, kicking conditions are certainly not easy

Leinster miss leaving it 13-6

I would pick Rhys Ruddock as MoM already!

Gavin Coombs doing well

BigGee wrote:I would pick Rhys Ruddock as MoM already!

He has been good

Side to side but make little to no progress. Not sure where a Munster score will come from.

Leinster should have been penalised at that maul, coming round and blocking the ball.

10pts game which going off the game that's more then Munster will get

Possession still 67 v 33

Going off this week Toulouse will be a long day next week