Larkham set for a little Friendy fire at Connacht

Stephen Larkham says he knew all about how special the Irish interprovincial games are long before he arrived on these shores, and while the provinces are set to be shorn of their World Cup players for most of the Christmas period, he’s looking forward to the derby games.

The biggest casualty of the IRFU mandate is, arguably, the biggest game in the PRO14 calendar when Munster take on Leinster. Larkham said there is no issue with all the frontline players missing a game with such a billing.