A CJ Stander and Jamie Heaslip face-off — time to fasten the seat belts

When Leinster and Munster do battle, the final result is what matters most. Invariably, though, there are also personal duels that command huge public attention and that will certainly be the case at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday when Jamie Heaslip and CJ Stander go face-to-face in a mouth watering number eight duel.

Both men slotted comfortably into the Ireland back-row last season with Heaslip at eight and Stander at six. But there are many who believe with Peter O’Mahony back to near full fitness that he should be restored to the blind side of the scrum and that Stander will usurp Heaslip’s right to the number eight jersey. Obviously, their clash on Saturday will go a long way towards resolving Joe Schmidt’s dilemma.

For now, though, Stander has thoughts only for doing all he can to reverse the results of last season’s PRO12 meetings of the sides.