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©INPHO/Morgan Treacy
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Horgan ready to make a little bit of Leinster history

The winger will make his 200th appearance for the province later on this evening when they take on Munster in Thomond Park (k.o. 19:30).

THERE IS ALWAYS a great sense of occasion whenever Leinster travel to Thomond Park to take on their dear provincial rivals, but for Shane Horgan, this evening’s game will have an extra-special significance.

With 199 appearances for the Blues to his name over the past 13 years, the 32-year-old is set to reach a remarkable double-century of provincial caps, making him the first player ever to do so in a Leinster jersey.

The man affectionately known as “Shaggy” will be joined in the three-quarters line by fellow Irish internationals Brian O’Driscoll, Gordon D’Arcy and Luke Fitzgerald with Leinster sending out a heavy-hitting side as they seek to reel Munster in at the summit of the Magners League.

As things stand, the hosts currently have a 12-point lead over their cosmopolitan visitors though both sides will rightly expect to be present in the end-of-season play-offs.

Munster may be winless in their last five encounters with Leinster, but the Thomond Park crowd would dearly love a win which would prove to be some minor consolation for the province’s early exit from this year’s Heineken Cup.

Coach Tony McGahan has recalled Donncha O’Callaghan, David Wallace and Donnacha Ryan for tomorrow evening’s top-of-the-table clash which means that there is no place in the matchday 22 for Niall Ronan while Mick O’Driscoll and Dennis Leamy will both have to be content with places on the bench.

Munster: Jones; Howlett, Murphy, Mafi, Earls; O’Gara, Murray; du Preez, Varley, Buckley; O’Callaghan, O’Connell (c); Ryan, Wallace, Coughlan.

Replacements: Sherry, Horan, Hayes, O’Driscoll, Leamy, Stringer, Warwick, Tuitupou.

Leinster: Nacewa, Horgan, O’Driscoll, D’Arcy, Fitzgerald; Sexton, Boss; Healy, Strauss, Ross; Cullen (c), Hines; McLaughlin, O’Brien, Heaslip.

Replacements: Dundon, van der Merwe, Wright, Toner, Ruddock, Reddan, Madigan, McFadden.

The crimson meets the blue: nine moments from the Munster-Leinster rivalry >