O'Connell to lead Munster charge

Munster welcome back the bulk of their Ireland internationals, led by captain Paul O'Connell, for tomorrow's Magners League clash with Leinster at Thomond Park Stadium (7.30pm).

Number eight Denis Leamy misses out with injury, allowing in-form Niall Ronan to stake his place for more regular incluson on the openside in a back row with Alan Quinlan and David Wallace.

Wing Ian Dowling will play for the province for the first time since January, at the expense of Barry Murphy, and Paul Warwick gets the nod over Denis Hurley for the full-back slot.

Up front there is a complete change in the front five with the return of the internationals but in the back row, Alan Quinlan and Niall Ronan, both superb in the win over Glasgow, retain their places with David Wallace anchoring the scrum in the absence of the injured Denis Leamy.

Quinlan said: "You always look forward to these type of games, against the other Irish sides, local derbies if you like that have a unique atmosphere and this one probably caps them all.

"I know they (Leinster) will be looking to make up for us beating them earlier but even still games against them are as tough as anything we play during the season," he said.

MUNSTER (v Leinster):

P Warwick; D Howlett, K Earls, L Mafi, I Dowling; R O'Gara, T O'Leary; M Horan, J Flannery, J Hayes; D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell (capt), A Quinlan, N Ronan, D Wallace.

Replacements: D Fogarty, T Buckley, M O'Driscoll, D Ryan, P Stringer, B Murphy, D Hurley.