This was definitely a tough one.

Munster and Leinster have had some pretty incredible teams over the years. They’ve produced homegrown Lions captains in Paul O’Connell and Brian O’Driscoll and attracted some of the biggest stars in Doug Howlett and Isa Nacewa to ply their trade in Ireland.

And the success they’ve had is plain to see – in the last fifteen years Munster (2) and Leinster (4) and won six European Cups. English teams meanwhile have won just four of them, with French teams winning the other 5.

Then there’s the PRO14. It may be in its first year in the current 14-team format, but it’s been around for the last 18 or so years. Munster (3) and Leinster (4) have won seven of those Championships. That’s incredible.

But it’s their own rivalry over the years that has driven Irish Rugby. The balance of power has shifted so many times, from Munster’s glory years of 2006-2008, to Leinster’s dominant spell between 2009-2012. Plain and simple – they are two of the most successful clubs sides the game has ever seen.

Leinster may have the edge now – and probably will for another few years as they look set to enter another dominant spell. But what would a combined ‘Greatest Leinster and Munster XV from the Professional Era’ look like?

It’s a tough one, and not many will be able to agree on most of the positions. But former Munster flanker Alan Quinlan and former Leinster winger Luke Fitzgerald have had a go picking theirs, and it’s safe to say – there ain’t many teams in the world that would beat this one.

Alan Quinlan & Luke Fitzgerald’s Greatest Leinster and Munster XV from the Professional Era

15. Isa Nacewa
14. Doug Howlett
13. Brian O’Driscoll
12. Gordon D’Arcy
11. Keith Earls
10. Ronan O’Gara
9. Conor Murray

1. Cian Healy
2. Jerry Flannery
3. John Hayes
4. Paul O’Connell
5. Donncha O’Callaghan
6. Sean O’Brien
7. David Wallace
8. Jamie Heaslip