Cullen's last start for Munster was in the corresponding fixture in early December. On that occasion the former All Black capped a return to the side after injury by scoring the all important and only try of the game as Munster saw off the western challenge on a thirteen points to nil scoreline.

It was a final scoreline that did little justice to the visitors who were right in contention up until Cullen's try,  a score that owed much to Trevor Halstead's superb break, and even then only superb Munster defence denied Connacht the score that might have earned them a bonus point.

Munster Squad: Christian Cullen, Shaun Payne,  John Kelly, Barry Murphy, Lifeimi Mafi, Trevor Halstead, Ian Dowling, Jeremy Manning, Ronan OGara, Tomas OLeary, Peter Stringer; Darragh Hurley, Tony Buckley, Federico Pucciariello, Frank Sheahan, Andy Kyriacou, John Hayes, Chris Wyatt, Donnacha Ryan, Donncha OCallaghan, Paul OConnell capt, John OSullivan, James Coughlan, David Wallace, Denis Leamy.

Connacht Squad.
Michael Diffley, Andrew Farley, Adrian Flavin, John Fogarty, David Gannon, John Hearty, Chris Keane, Stephen Knoop, Matt Lacey, Keith Matthews, Mark McHugh, Conor McPhillips, John Muldoon, Ray Ofisa, Conor O'Loughlin, Colm Rigney, Daniel Riordan, Ted Robinson, Brett Sturgess, Michael Swift, Paul Warwick, Brett Wilkinson, Gavin Williams, Darren Yapp.