There are sub-plots everywhere you look.
Extra narratives aren't ever needed to sell a Leinster-Munster contest, but they’re always welcome.
Those who claim Irish rugby’s biggest rivalry has lost its bite from back in its 2000s heyday are fighting a losing argument, with 82,300 people packing into a sold-out Croke Park this evening (Live on RTÉ2/Player, kick-off 5.45pm), proving that this Interpro is in pretty rude health.
The breakdown of wins and losses may still be weighing heavily on Leinster’s side of the scales, with the province winning 12 of the last 14 meetings, but particularly in the last two years there has been a renewed bite, with each of the last four games between the pair being decided by a single score.
Events off the pitch have done just as much to fuel the fire as on it over the last couple of seasons.
Leinster’s domination of the IRFU central contract system has given supporters of the other three provinces – not just Munster’s - the impression that the deck is stacked against them, and that belief has been fastened with their signings of RG Snyman, Rabah Slimani and Jordie Barrett, the latter of whom will arrive in December.
Snyman’s move from Munster to Leinster also ruffled feathers, particularly when it was linked to Jean Kleyn becoming non-Irish qualified after he swapped international allegiance to become a Springbok last year.
None of those issues have been played out in public by the players or management at the provinces, but they have still made it clear that this is by no means a friendly rivalry.
On Leinster’s side, James Lowe spoke of how there is "a mutual hatred between the boys" when he was on media duty this week, while Munster coach Graham Rowntree admitted he hadn’t fully grasped the importance of this fixture when he joined the province in 2019.
When the pair met for the first time last season, it came just a few weeks after Ireland’s World Cup heartbreak, but with more than 49,000 people packing into the Aviva Stadium that evening, it was clear the Irish rugby public hadn’t been jaded by that experience.
This evening, there is also the added motivation of an Irish squad to be decided in the coming weeks.
Ireland play four games in November, the first of which is a rematch of their World Cup quarter-final against New Zealand in just under four weeks.
One of the intriguing sub-plots on the pitch this evening comes at out-half, where Ireland’s first and second choice tens, Jack Crowley and Ciarán Frawley, go head-to-head.
It has taken Leo Cullen some time to commit to Frawley as his out-half, with the Skerries man having been a victim of his own versatility in recent seasons, popping up right across the backline, even though Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has consistently seen his natural home being as an out-half.
The way in which he managed Ireland’s comeback victory in the second Test against South Africa in Durban was impossible to ignore, as he landed two drop-goals to rescue a draw in the series. With both Ross and Harry Byrne sitting on the bench this evening, the signs are clear that he is now Leinster’s starter, even if he will likely have to move into the centre later in the game.
The big role to be auditioned for this weekend – across both derbies – is at hooker, where Farrell now has several vacancies.
With Rónan Kelleher set to miss some, if not all of the four-games next month, it provides an opportunity for someone to put their hand up for selection, and what better weekend than this one?
With Dan Sheehan ruled out until the new year, and Ulster pair Rob Herring and Tom Stewart both yet to feature this season due to injury, Farrell will be keeping a close eye on that position this weekend.
Munster’s Diarmuid Barron has been involved in extended squads in recent seasons and will never get a better opportunity to impress, while former Ireland under-20 captain Gus McCarthy has impressed in the early season, both for Leinster and Emerging Ireland. Meanwhile, up in Belfast, Connacht’s Dave Heffernan will be hoping to maintain his explosive early season form when they take on Ulster.
While both teams are without some key players due to injury, the level of international experience Leinster can call on – both Irish and South African - does give them the edge on paper, but even in the middle of Munster’s injury crises in the last two seasons, they have shown an ability to stay competitive.
"Eventually, I can just hear O'Connell shouting, 'that's it lads, he's had enough'...@bernardjackman and @MurphyJohne recall some of their fiery experiences in Leinster v Munster games down the years. 🔥
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) October 9, 2024
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Key to the fight will be how Munster find away around, through or over Leinster’s aggressive blitz defence.
In last week’s 23-0 win at home to the Ospreys, Munster tailored their game to suit the miserable weather conditions in Cork, and Bernard Jackman believes a similar, tighter gameplan may be just the ticket this weekend, even with ideal playing conditions forecast at Croke Park.
"I’m fascinated to see if it’s a dry night on Saturday evening, if they do play that pragmatic game," the former Leinster and Ireland hooker said on the RTÉ Rugby podcast this week.
Both Jackman and former Munster wing Johne Murphy agreed that while Leinster’s style of defending does leave space to be attacked, their ability to scramble makes attacking that space risky.
"There’s definitely kick space, kick-pass space, you can get around them as well if you get lots of width and get the right playmakers on the ball, but it’s what you do after that.
"I thought Leinster’s scramble against Benetton was exceptional.
"There’s a clip there from the weekend where Benetton burst Leinster near the end of the first half and just get into the 22. You just see Tadhg Furling and [Andrew] Porter flying around the corner. Benetton would have felt they could stay on top of them and they get smashed behind the gainline.
"What was impressive [with Munster] on Saturday was their understanding of how important it is to play on the front foot, whether that’s through running or kicking."
Murphy agreed, adding: "There are holes there. Ulster showed it last year, and that is the gamble they play in a system like this: the kick-space. It’s when you make the linebreak, it’s where you go after that, which is the really important thing.
"They have so much power and pace coming off the defensive line.
"That’s the battle, off the linebreaks, it’s where you go after that makes Leinster so difficult to break down as a whole."
Listen to the RTÉ Rugby podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Watch Leinster v Munster in the URC on Saturday from 5pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on RTÉ.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to live commentary with Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
