Leinster's Jimmy O'Brien scores his side's second try despite the presence of Sharks' Makazole Mapimpi during Saturday's United Rugby Championship match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin. Photograph: Tom O’Hanlon/Inpho
The kinship forged between summer tourists and teammates in Lions and Ireland jerseys will be suspended next Saturday as they don their provincial colours when Leinster host Munster at Croke Park (5.30pm).
The teams arrive in slightly different shape, in terms of results, for the opening provincial clash of the season. Munster are unbeaten across three games, their latest a 20-19 triumph against Edinburgh in Cork. Leinster’s 31-5 win over the Sharks was their first victory of the season, having lost both matches in South Africa, to the Stormers and the Bulls.
The game will come less than
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