A year after Munster humbled Leinster, the much-changed foes are ready to battle again

What a difference a year makes. Put selection to one side and the most striking aspect of Munster’s 31-14 victory over Leinster in the United Rugby Championship (URC) last season is the turnover in personnel in the intervening 12 months since, which is largely attributable to the physical toll of professional rugby.

The two meet at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, but as of last weekend, 11 from the matchday squads for last year’s game at Croke Park are unavailable through injury. A further six players are no longer contracted to either province. That’s 36 per cent of the total – albeit based on injury updates from this week, so that figure might come down – but it’s still quite a churn.