What time and TV channel is Leinster v Munster tonight in the URC? Stream info, betting odds and more

06:55, 24 Oct 2026Updated 10:50, 24 Oct 2026

Leinster had seventeen players named in the Ireland squad in midweek; Munster had two.

Leinster have named 14 of their squaddies to start; Munster play both of theirs.

There are two specific one-on-one encounters making the news.

Firstly Leo Cullen has taken the highly unusual path of diverting his star hooker Dan Sheehan from hooker to no8.

This stems directly from the unavailability of injured Lions and Ireland duo Jack Conan and Caelan Doris and leans heavily on the idea Sheehan is a powerful ball carrier.

It's been a move greeted with almost universal acclaim, Brian O'Driscoll, Alan Quinlan, Ian Madigan and others of a mind Sheehan and the no8 shirt are an instant fit.

For sure, Leinster are sacrificing a lineout jumping no8 which is not too much of a concession when Ryan Baird is in the team as a back-row.

While it will be super-interesting to see what international aspirants Gavin Coombes, Alex Kendellen along with Jack O'Donoghue in Munster's back-row make of it.

They will surely be looking for short-route angles to the Leinster line in the hope the ersatz no8 is a second too slow or half-a-metre off the correct spot.

As for Blues 14 internationals, their 15th starter is former Ireland out-half Joey Carbery while he will be partnered at scrum-half by the returning Jamison Gibson-Park

Munster will have first-year Academy out-half Charlie O'Shea continuing to deputise for the injured Jack Crowley. JGP's Ireland deputy Craig Casey starts at no9.

Where: Aviva Stadium, Dublin

When: Saturday, October 24th

Former Leinster star, now Premier Sport analyst Ian Madigan: "Leinster really blew Clermont away in that second half when they really got on top physically. Claremont weren't able to keep the gain line in their attack and Leinster were. And that's when the other conversations start to open up.

"I know Munster have a few injuries at loosehead but full credit to Josh Wycherley, he's well able to hold his own in the scrum and I'd expect him to do that alongside Van der Merwe and Kieran Brookes who have both been brilliant signings. It's a very strong second row in Fineen Wycherley and Tadhg Beirne. Last week though was a very emotional game last week, how much would that have taken out of the players and then having to go on the road again. They're going to have to go deep and that's the key in these inter-pros, you've got to physically match the opposition and Munster did that in this fixture last year. It was physically the best performance I thought they put out for the entire season and they struggled to keep that intensity especially in the second half of the season.

Former Munster star, now Premier Sport analyst Alan Quinlan on 'the derby': "Leinster's dominance in recent times has diluted it a little bit, just expected Leinster will win most of them, stats show that. What happened last year will definitely give Munster a bit of a surge, to get a bonus point away from home was something no-one expected.

"The significance, rivalry is always there, but it's not as edgy as it used to be. If there were 12, 13 Munster and Leinster players in the Ireland squad and all chomping at the bit, not disliking each other but competing aggressively for selection, it made it really competitive. It could ignite, could be carnage in Dublin, but I don't think it's nasty or narky, a lot of them get on with each other. Neither side wants to lose but not the same bite in it."

Betting: Leinster 1/12 Draw 35/1 Munster 8/1

Handicap: Leinster minus-17

Leinster: Hugo Keenan; Tommy O’Brien, Jamie Osborne, Robbie Henshaw, Jimmy O’Brien; Joey Carbery, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong; Joe McCarthy, James Ryan; Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier, Dan Sheehan (captain).

Replacements: Gus McCarthy, Alex Usanov, Thomas Clarkson, Conor O’Tighearnaigh, Scott Penny, Fintan Gunne, Caspar Gabriel, Charlie Tector.

Munster: Ben O’Connor; Shay McCarthy, Seán O’Brien, Alex Nankivell, Shane Daly; Charlie O’Shea, Craig Casey; Josh Wycherley, Marnus van der Merwe, Kieran Brookes; Fineen Wycherley, Tadhg Beirne (captain); Jack O’Donoghue, Alex Kendellen, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Max Clein, Mark Donnelly, Michael Ala’alatoa, Seán Edogbo, Brian Gleeson, Ben O’Donovan, JJ Hanrahan, Gordon Wood.