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Richardt Strauss will win his 100th cap on Friday. James Crombie/INPHO
Starting XVs

Leinster and Munster mix it up for sold-out Pro12 meeting

The provinces face off at Thomond Park on St Stephen’s Day.

MUNSTER HAVE RUNG in the changes for the Guinness Pro12 match with Leinster on St Stephen’s Day (5pm).

After last weekend’s defeat to Glasgow Warriors, head coach Anthony Foley has recalled eight players — Duncan Casey, CJ Stander, Tommy McDonnell, Stephen Archer, Donnacha O’Callaghan, Ronan O’Mahony, Duncan Williams and Ian Keatley — to the starting XV for Friday’s sold-out meeting at Thomond Park.

Leinster, meanwhile, make six switches in personnel and several positional changes. Richardt Strauss, set to make his 100th appearance for the province, comes into the front row, Dominic Ryan replaces Kevin McLaughlin and Jack Conan gets the nod ahead of Jamie Heaslip in the back row.

Zane Kirchner switches to full-back with Darragh Fanning taking his place on the wing, while Gordon D’Arcy is named at inside centre and Ian Madigan is handed the number 10 shirt.

MUNSTER

15. Felix Jones (captain)
14. Andrew Conway
13. Pat Howard
12. Denis Hurley
11. Ronan O’Mahony
10. Ian Keatley
9. Duncan Williams
1. John Ryan
2. Duncan Casey
3. Stephen Archer
4. Donncha O’Callaghan
5. Billy Holland
6. CJ Stander
7. Tommy O’Donnell
8. Robin Copeland 

Replacements:

16. Kevin O’Byrne
17. Eusebio Guinazu
18. BJ Botha
19. Dave O’Callaghan
20. Paddy Butler
21. Neil Cronin
22. JJ Hanrahan
23. Johne Murphy

LEINSTER

15. Zane Kirchner
14. Darragh Fanning
13. Luke Fitzgerald
12. Gordon D’Arcy
11. Dave Kearney
10. Ian Madigan
9. Isaac Boss
1. Michael Bent
2. Richardt Strauss
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Mike McCarthy
5. Kane Douglas
6. Dominic Ryan
7. Shane Jennings (captain)
8. Jack Conan

Replacements:

16. Aaron Dundon
17. Maks Van Dyk
18. Jamie Hagan
19. Tom Denton
20. Jordi Murphy
21. Luke McGrath
22. Jimmy Gopperth
23. Noel Reid

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