Leinster and Munster name teams for RDS clash

Jonathan Sexton returns to the Leinster team to face Munster in Saturday’s Magners League semi-final at the RDS, while Tony McGahan also welcome back a host of top stars.

Sexton partners Eoin Reddan in a backline which includes six Ireland internationals.

Isa Nacewa, who kicked 17 points in the 37-28 victory over Edinburgh last weekend, moves to the left wing and forms a back three with Shane Horgan and Rob Kearney.

Shane Jennings leads the team for the fifth time this season in the absence of the injured Leo Cullen and Jennings continues his back-row partnership with Kevin McLaughlin and Jamie Heaslip.

The replacements bench will be confirmed closer to kick off.

McGahan has brought Doug Howlett, Keith Earls, John Hayes and Mick O'Driscoll into his starting XV.

Jerry Flannery and David Wallace are named as replacements.

Howlett's been out of action since the Heineken Cup quarter-final match with Northampton, while Earls, Flannery and O'Driscoll missed last week's trip to Cardiff through injury.

Hayes was rested for that tie.

Earls' return means Lifeimi Mafi switches to the left wing while Denis Hurley makes way for Howlett on the right.

Up front Damien Varley continues at hooker as Flannery returns from injury.

Niall Ronan and Nick Williams are chosed at seven and eight respectively.

LEINSTER team to play Munster in the Magners League semi-final at the RDS on Saturday, kick-off 8pm:

Rob Kearney, Shane Horgan, Brian O'Driscoll, Gordon D'Arcy, Isa Nacewa, Jonathan Sexton, Eoin Reddan.

Cian Healy, John Fogarty, Stan Wright, Nathan Hines, Malcolm O'Kelly, Kevin McLaughlin, Shane Jennings, Jamie Heaslip.

Replacements from: Richard Strauss, Mike Ross, CJ van der Linde, Trevor Hogan, Rhys Ruddock, Stephen Keogh, Paul O'Donohoe, Shaun Berne, Fergus McFadden, Girvan Dempsey.

MUNSTER: Paul Warwick; Doug Howlett, Keith Earls, Jean de Villiers, Lifeimi Mafi; Ronan O'Gara, Tomas O'Leary;

Marcus Horan, Damien Varley, John Hayes; Donncha O'Callaghan, Mick O'Driscoll; Alan Quinlan, Niall Ronan, Nick Williams.

Replacements: Jerry Flannery, David Ryan, James Coughlan, David Wallace, Peter Stringer, Denis Hurley, Simon Deasy.