Leinster 0-0 Munster (Latest)
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606: DEBATE
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By Pranav Soneji
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9 mins: Brilliant snaffle from Leinster prop Stan Wright from a high kick sets up Isa Nacewa to kick deep into Munster's 22m.
8 mins: Impressive defence from Leinster, with two big hits forcing Lifeimi Mafi to knock on, a tackle which sparks a mini rumpus with Gordon D'arcy and Keith Earls the epicentre. A stern lecture from the ever-spritely Nigel Owens to both captains warns both captains that any more of that and it's yellow cards.
5 mins: Not a good start at all for Contepomi. Peter Stringer charges down Brian O'Driscoll's kick, while the Leinster fly-half making a less-than impressive clearance deep inside his 22m line, making about five metres. However, Contepomi makes amends with a strong run from a quick penalty, earning valuable ground.
3 mins : Munster's Denis Leamy is penalised for a tackle at the ruck on the half-way line, allowing Felipe Contepomi his first shot at the sticks. The Argentine opts for a low trajectory but his radar is off-line as the kick sails right of the posts.
1 minute: Nice start from Felipe Contepomi, whose high hanging kick causes a bit of confusion in Munster's ranks, but Ronan O'Gara makes touch towards the half-way line with a confident kick.
1732: Plenty of red dotted around this incredible stadium, although the blue flags are giving their primary colour rivals a right belting battle. Blimey, that is some serious noise being made by those 83,000 inside this fantastic stadium. Team-wise, Munster have retained 14 of the starting 15 which thoroughly whooped Ospreys 43-9 in the quarter-finals, with Peter Stringer replacing the injured Tomas O'Leary. Leinster captain Leo Cullen returns to the second row, while Shane Horgan plays at right wing with Isa Nacewa moving to full-back.
We have a minute's silence in honour of Dr Karl Mullen, former Lions and Ireland captain who sadly passed away. Kick-off time...
1728: For all you non-partisans, there are 10 Lions on show at Croke Park, a number which would have been 12 but for an ankle injury to Tomas O'Leary and Rob Kearney's mumps. Ouch, no fun.
1726: The Heineken Cup has been a bit of a Curate's egg for Leinster. They have reached the semi-finals on three occasions since the competition's inception in 1996, but lost on every occasion.
The last time these two teams met at this stage in the Heineken Cup, Munster blew their neighbours away with a thorough 30-6 thumping in 2006, when they clinched the trophy following a 23-19 win over Biarritz.
Munster have nine survivors from that match while Leinster have seven, including Girvan Dempsey, on the bench for this afternoon's encounter.
1724:
"I think Leinster have to get at O'Gara."
neiliog93 - Founder of the John Fogarty Supporters' front in opposition to Brian Blaney
Possibly the best name on 606. Fact.
1720: If you're a Leinster fan, you may want to look away now... Munster have beaten Leo Cullen's side, last year's Magners League champions, twice already this season, restricting them to just one paltry try in the process.
Munster are searching for their third European triumph in four seasons. This will be their eighth semi-final appearance in 10 years - they have won five and lost three. And even the three they lost were seriously tight affairs, all lost by one score, so it's fair to say the men in red are as comfortable as a pillow factory in this situation.
1718: A quick reminder of the teams:
Leinster : Nacewa; Horgan, B O'Driscoll, D'Arcy, Fitzgerald; Contepomi, Whitaker; Healy, Jackman, Wright, Cullen (cpt), O'Kelly, Elsom, Jennings, Heaslip. Replacements: Fogarty, McCormick, Toner, O'Brien, Keogh, Sexton, Dempsey.
Munster : Warwick; Howlett, Earls, Mafi, Dowling; O'Gara, Stringer; Horan, Flannery, Hayes, O'Callaghan, O'Connell (cpt), Quinlan, Wallace, Leamy. Replacements: Fogarty, Buckley, M O'Driscoll, Ronan, Prendergast, B Murphy, Hurley.
1715 : We all know players love telling us sporty reporting types that Heineken Cup semi-finals are "big games". But this one really is. No, really. A world record 82,300 are expected to rattle through the turnstiles to see Leinster v Munster in the Heineken Cup semi-final at Croke Park, surpassing the 81,600 that watched last year's Guinness Premiership final between Wasps and Leicester at Twickenham last season. But how many of those will be decked in red on Leinster's patch?
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