Munster v Leinster: 5 of the best clashes between the two great rivals

There is nothing that stokes the passion quite like a derby match between Munster and Leinster. Ahead of tomorrow’s clash, JOE looks at five memorable clashes between the two sides.

Whether it is a league game, or a Heineken Cup tie, neither side will be found wanting tomorrow evening in Limerick with bragging rights all to play for. Tomorrow's clash may not have as much riding on the results as some of the games below, but we are still expecting an entertaining tie between these two great rivals.

By Declan Whooley

Heineken Cup semi-final 2006

The first meeting of the two great rivals at the knock-out stage of the Heieneken Cup just didn’t go to script. Munster, the nearly-men of the the competition at that stage, had edged past Perpignan in the quarter-final with all the points coming from Ronan O’Gara, while Leinster were fancied to win the competition outright after putting 41 points away to Toulouse.

Leinster just never got going, with Felipe Contepomi struggling from the outset from the Munster onslaught. Lansdowne Road was a sea of red and the players responded with a brilliant performance and winning on a scoreline of 30-6.

This try from O’Gara was sandwiched in between five pointers from Denis Leamy and Trevor Halstead and set Munster up for a deserved win in Cardiff over Biarritz in the final.

Heineken Cup semi-final 2009

In a role reversal from three year’s previous, Leinster used this comprehensive defeat of their neighbours at the penultimate stage to carry on and lift the trophy for the first time.

Munster were the reigning champions and buoyed by a record Lions contingent for the upcoming tour to South Africa, but they had no answer to Leinster’s power on the day. Jonny Sexton came on for the injured Contepomi on the day, but it was a seamless transition, and in Rocky Elsom, Leinster had not only the most influential player on the pitch, but perhaps the most influential player in the competition that season.

Here was the breakaway try from BOD that put the game firmly to bed.

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Magners League, 2009

Just six months after beating Munster in the Heineken Cup semi-final at Croke Park, Leinster were determined to prove that it was no flash in the pan and delivered an almost impeccable performance at the RDS.

Tries from Gordon D’Arcy, Brian O’Driscoll and Shane Horgan, plus an uncharacteristic red card for John Hayes made it a miserable night for Tony McGahan’s men in the capital. A fifteen-point haul for Jonny Sexton put the gloss on one of the most one-sided encounter between the sides in the professional era.

Here is another try from BOD against the Munster men. How they must be sick of the sight of him.

Magners Final, 2011

Even with home advantage, Munster went into the final as underdogs against a Leinster side going for the double just a week after their Heineken Cup final victory, but upset the form book for a 19-9 victory over a jubilant crowd.

Tries from Doug Howlett, Keith Earls and a late penalty-try, plus a man-of-the-match performance from David Wallace on his 200th appearance for Munster tipped the scales in their favour.

Leinster were undoubtedly disappointed with the result, but many felt the draining comeback against Northampton the previous week took its toll somewhat, never mind the subsequent celebrations.

RaboDirect PRO12, 2013 – The last hurrah for BOD

This fixture could well turn out to be the last time Brian O’Driscoll squares off against Munster, and the last time that our two greatest players from the professional era, perhaps even of all time, O’Driscoll and O’Connell will face each other in combat.

BOD has generally been at his very best against his neighbours, with a tremendous scoring record in this fixture. He will start his first game since January at Thomond Park and if ever there was a fixture he relishes it is this one.

Of course we don’t know what his future plans are for certain, but even allowing for injuries, it could be the last time we see these two great servants to Irish rugby in opposing sides.

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