O’Gara dropped for Leinster showdown

Munster head coach Rob Penney has dropped Ronan O’Gara for tomorrow’s RaboDirect PRO12 meeting with Leinster at Thomond Park (6.30pm), entrusting fly half responsibilities to Ian Keatley.

Keatley’s inclusion ahead of O’Gara marks the only backline change from the side that beat Harlequins in the Twickenham Stoop last weekend.

Despite contributing all eighteen points in last weekend’s Heineken Cup win, there is no place for O’Gara on the replacements bench, with Cathal Sheridan and Ivan Dineen providing backline cover.

There are three changes up front where Donncha O’Callaghan partners Paul O’Connell in the second row in place of Donnacha Ryan.

Damien Varley and Stephen Archer have gotten the nod to start ahead of Mike Sherry and BJ Botha respectively

Prop James Cronin is included among the replacements for the first time, while Dave O'Callaghan back in the match day squad for the first time since late December.

Munster (v. Leinster): F Jones; D Hurley, C Laulala, J Downey, S Zebo; I Keatley, C Murray; D Kilcoyne , D Varley, S Archer; Donncha O’Callaghan, P O’Connell capt; P O’Mahony, T O’Donnell , J Coughlan.

Replacements: M Sherry, J Cronin, BJ Botha, B Holland, Dave O’Callaghan, C Sheridan, I Dineen.