Thomond set for St Stephen’s Day sellout

More than 24,000 of the 26,500 tickets available have been snapped up for Friday’s Guinness Pro12 clash of Munster and Leinster at Thomond Park.

The strong provincial rivalry has clearly caught the imagination of the rugby public again, though it is likely neither team will be at full strength.

News leaked from Leinster’s press conference that scrum-half Conor Murray would not be lining out for Munster, and that looked a certainty later in the day when second choice number 9 Duncan Williams was wheeled out for interview. It’s quite likely Simon Zebo and possibly captain Peter O’Mahony, who shipped a knee injury in Saturday’s defeat by Glasgow, and Paul O’Connell may also be rested.