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High-quality finale on cards in Leinster-Munster rematch

Old rivals Leinster and Munster collide in the final
Old rivals Leinster and Munster collide in the final

It's simple really. Scrum five metres out; move your blindside flanker to loosehead prop, take your left winger and put her in the back row.

Set your regular loosehead prop at first receiver and a couple of phases later, your second row barges over for a try.

That was the unorthodox but successful formula for Leinster’s second try in last weekend’s 39-14 win over Ulster, Ruth Campbell getting the touchdown just before half-time.

Ireland’s Linda Djougang the aforementioned hybrid back, Caoimhe Molloy and Ella Roberts the supporting cast.

"I was lucky enough to do my coaching mentorship with Scott Wisemantel from Australia," explained Leinster head coach Tania Rosser to RTÉ Sport.

"And a lot of what we talked about was being innovative and using players with big strengths and how can we use them better.

"We know that Linda is a big ball-carrier and we want to get her on the ball, just show something different.

"We can continue being the old regular Leinster team and have a scrum and feed our out-halves and centres, or why not do something different?

"When the Ulster out-half [Abby Moyles] saw Linda in front of her she was trying to work out what was going on. It’s just trying to be innovative.

"Linda was up for it and excited to have a crack. She doesn’t get much time out of the scrum. It’s just trying to think out of the box really."

Linda Djougang on the charge against Ulster

That a team is able to plan and execute such a move is indicative of the increase in quality on display in this Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship series, which has seen 27 players score over 50 tries across the six games to date.

Saturday’s decider between defending champions Leinster and Munster at the Kingspan Stadium (4.15pm) is a repeat of last year's final, and a chance for Leinster to avenge their 32-21 round-two loss, a game that could have gone either way.

"It’s definitely the one that got away," said back row Aoife Wafer this week. "We came from that last one and we were hurting."

But it’s Munster who have been the team of the tournament so far.

They top the table after taking 15 points from 15 and scoring 15 tries, nine of those coming from Alana McInerney (6) and Chisom Ugwueru (3).

That form has earned the two wingers spots in Scott Bemand's Ireland squad for the upcoming international window.

Fiona Hayes’ side have also achieved a clean sweep while capping seven new players: Michelle O’Driscoll, Lucia Linn, Emma Dunican, Annakate Cournane, Ciara McLoughlin, Ciara O’Dwyer and Caitriona Finn, who was named as a training panellist with Ireland.

"I’d say I would have been left at home in Limerick if the standard was this high when I was playing because the speed of the game, everything, is just superb," Hayes (below) said this week.

"I’ve watched it with Connacht and Ulster and Leinster and everyone is trying to play wide. They’re trying to get everyone involved in the game.

"It’s the confidence that they have to try and pull the trigger, to get wide, to try offloads to do these things."

Centre Enya Breen returns after missing out last week in the only change to the starting XV for Munster.

The sides shared eight tries in the meeting in Cork two weeks ago and Munster went coast to coast to grab the clinching score when Leinster looked to have the upper hand.

Another close contest is expected.

"We need to watch our discipline because they’ve got a good kicker who can put them in the right area of the pitch," said Rosser of Munster out-half Kate Flannery.

"It’s going to be tight. We know they play a good style of rugby. We are excited to see what the girls put up to them."

There's a seasonal debut in store for Ireland out-half Dannah O'Brien off the bench, while captain Hannah O'Connor is injured. Flanker Molly Boyne will lead the side.

Nikki Caughey gets the nod at out-half ahead of Jemma Farrell.

Meanwhile, Ulster and Connacht face off in a rematch of their drawn affair in round two.

Connacht looked to have done enough when leading by 14 with just eight minutes to go but two converted tries ensured the spoils were shared.

Ireland number 8 Brittany Hogan has been immense for the hosts this season, and fit-again Kathryn Dane has brought her experience to the mix.

India Daley has also been a standout and the hooker was unlucky to miss out on an Ireland call-up, albeit a position already well stocked.

Ulster ended a 12-year search for an Interpro win last year when they beat Connacht and head coach Murray Houston will want to frank his side’s progress this year with another victory.

"Getting to play at home against Connacht is an opportunity to go out and put in a really good performance but ultimately get that victory we’re looking for as well," he said.

"Connacht have been very good throughout the competition, we have to be wary of how they played in the first half up here so it’s about getting that consistency."

Ulster will be without Vicky Irwin, who's not included in the match-day 23.

Faith Oviawe (19) puts in a tackle in the defeat to Leinster

For the visitors, the breakthrough star has been Faith Oviawe, who switches from flank to the second row for the game.

That allows Ireland skipper Edel McMahon to start at openside.

Oviawe started the opening defeat to Leinster on the bench, came on and scored twice, and was rewarded with two starts, in which she also scored tries.

Such has been her impact, Bemand has included her as a training panellist.

Emer O’Dowd’s side, with Ireland full-back Méabh Deely in superb form, finished the regular season in third place on five points, one ahead of Ulster.

"It's a huge game, we don’t want to finish bottom," said O'Dowd.

"We want to beat Ulster up there. They are an animal, and it’s hard to beat anyone in their home ground.

"They’ll be very up for it as well. You never know what might happen but we are going up very confident."

That clash in Belfast kicks off at 2pm.


Munster: Aoife Corey; Chisom Ugwueru, Stephanie Nunan, Enya Breen, Alana McInerney; Kate Flannery, Muirne Wall; Siobhan McCarthy, Beth Buttimer, Éilis Cahill; Dorothy Wall, Claire Bennett; Clodagh O'Halloran, Jane Clohessy, Chloe Pearse (capt).

Replacements: Aoibheann McGrath, Ciara O'Dwyer, Ciara McLoughlin, Aoibhe O'Flynn, Brianna Heylmann, Caitriona Finn, Lucia Linn, Eimear Considine.

Leinster: Robyn O'Connor; Emma Tilly, Aoife Dalton, Leah Tarpey, Ella Roberts; Nikki Caughey, Jade Gaffney; Linda Djougang, Sarah Delaney, Christy Haney; Ruth Campbell, Eimear Corri; Jane Neill, Molly Boyne (capt), Caoimhe Molloy.

Replacements: Kelly Burke, Aoife Moore, Niamh O’Dowd, Aoife Wafer, Dannah O’Brien, Ailsa Hughes, Jemma Farrell, Anna Doyle.


Ulster: Lauren Farrell-McCabe; Lucy Thompson, Catherine Martin, Lucinda Kinghan, Megan Edwards; Abby Moyles, Rachael McIlroy; Ava Fannin, India Daley, Sophie Barrett; Brenda Barr, Cara O'Kane; Moya Hill, Maebh Clenaghan, Brittany Hogan (capt)

Replacements: Christy Hill, Bronach Cassidy, Megan Brodie, Ellen Patterson, Stacey Sloan, Paige Smyth, Lauren Patterson, Peita McAlister.

Connacht: Meabh Deely; Ava Ryder, Orla Dixon, Sarah Purcell, Hannah Clarke; Nicole Fowley (co-capt), Grainne Moran; Ella Burns, Lily Brady, Megan Collis; Faith Oviawe, Grace Browne Moran; Beibhinn Gleeson, Edel McMahon, Shannon Touhey (co-capt).

Replacements: Stacy Hanley, Ellen Connolly, Roisin Maher, Poppy Garvey, Orla Fenton, May Goulding, Éabha Nic Dhonnacha, Emily Foley.


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