No Prendergast-Crowley duel in Thomond as Munster and Leinster name teams

Billy Burns start at 10 for Munster. 

Munster's Billy Burns during the Champions Cup clash with Stade Francais. Picture: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

There will be no Jack Crowley and Sam Prendergast showdown when Munster host Leinster at Thomond Park on Friday evening with the Munster No.10 rested in accordance with the IRFU’s player welfare protocols.

It’s a huge disappointment for supporters who were eager to see Ireland’s top two out-halves go at it in a URC Christmas interpro after Prendergast usurped his older colleague in the pecking order with Andy Farrell’s Ireland during the November Test window.