Big guns back for Munster

All Black Doug Howlett and Ireland’s Keith Earls, Jerry Flannery, John Hayes and Mick O'Driscoll return for Munster against Leinster for the Magners League semi-final at the RDS on Saturday (8pm).

All Black Doug Howlett and Ireland’s Keith Earls, Jerry Flannery, John Hayes and Mick O'Driscoll return for Munster against Leinster for the Magners League semi-final at the RDS on Saturday (kick off: 8pm).

All except Flannery will start, Damien Varley holding on at hooker with Flannery held on the bench.

Earls' return means Lifeimi Mafi switches to the left wing while Denis Hurley makes way for Howlett on the right.

MUNSTER (v Leinster): P Warwick; D Howlett, K Earls, J de Villiers, L Mafi; R O'Gara, T O'Leary; M Horan, D Varley, J Hayes; D O'Callaghan, M O'Driscoll; A Quinlan, N Ronan, N Williams.

Replacements: J Flannery, D Ryan, J Coughlan, D Wallace, P Stringer, D Hurley, S Deasy.