Coach Tony McGahan has included Paul O'Connell and Keith Earls in the Munster squad of 22 for the Heineken Cup quarter final clash with Northampton Saints at Thomond Park on Saturday.

WITH just over a week to go to season-defining quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup for Munster and Leinster, one could surmise Friday’s eagerly-awaited Magners League clash will resonate more with supporters than the players.

IAN DOWLING has recovered from the ankle injury sustained against Edinburgh last month and starts for Munster in tonight’s Magners League clash with Llanelli Scarlets at Musgrave Park.

Munster coach Tony McGahan has been able to include Ronan O’Gara in his 25-man squad for Saturday's Magners League tie against Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade.

GARRYOWEN strenuously deny they were guilty of sharp practice at a crucial stage of Sunday’s AIL game against Dolphin at Dooradoyle.

DOLPHIN returned to Cork last night convinced they had been the victims of sharp practice after losing 13-12 to Garryowen in a bruising AIB League encounter at Dooradoyle.

Garryowen 13 Dolphin 12

AN OCCASION that every player dreams of! Ben Foden may be on the brink of a long and distinguished career as the England full-back but the star of Northampton’s victory over Perpignan last Sunday has only one thought in his mind right now – to be a member of the Saints side that beats Munster in tonight’s crunch Heineken Cup Pool One decider at Thomond Park.

Ireland loose-head Marcus Horan has been included in an extended 28-man Munster squad as they prepare for Friday night’s Heineken Cup encounter with Northampton Saints at Thomond Park.

A MONTH ago, Munster travelled to Perpignan with many astute judges predicting the game would represent the end of an era.

MARCUS HORAN and Jerry Flannery will again be absentees when Munster take on Treviso in the Heineken Cup at Stadio Comunale Di Monigo on Saturday.

Marcus Horan once again is missing from the Munster squad for the Round 5 Heineken Cup clash with Benetton Treviso on Saturday.

SO THAT’S what Purgatory feels like. Forget about the weather – two weeks into the New Year and practically no rugby.

EVEN though Ronan O’Gara, Tomás O’Leary and Keith Earls are all rested under the IRFU edict regarding senior international players, Munster have chosen a back division of remarkable experience and talent for tomorrow evening’s sell-out Magners League clash with Ulster at Ravenhill.

Ronan O’Gara will captain Munster for their St Stephen's Day Magners League clash with Connacht at Thomond Park Stadium.

Munster coach Tony McGahan has decided to leave his captain Paul O'Connell and six others that played against Perpignan out of the Munster Squad to prepare for the Magners League clash with Connacht on St Stephens Day in Thomond Park Stadium.

MUNSTER sold 22,000 tickets for their St Stephen’s night Magners League game against Connacht at Thomond Park before their victory over Perpignan.

DOLPHIN’S hopes of an AIB Cup semi final victory over Garryowen at Musgrave Park today (2pm) have been boosted with the news that the three Munster contracted players have been released back to the club.

Coach Anthony Foley has been able to bring back Danny Riordan, Billy Holland and Tommy O'Donnell to his Munster side for Friday's British & Irish Cup clash against Bristol at Nenagh (7.30pm).

MUNSTER A will set down in another temporary home at Nenagh tonight (7.30pm) for the second of their British and Irish Cup assignments against top English side Bristol.

JAMES COUGHLAN is intent on helping Munster A enhance an unbeaten seasonal record when he captains the team in the opening clash of the new British and Irish Cup against English championship side Coventry at Butts Stadium, Coventry, tonight (7.45pm)

James Coughlan will lead Munster A into their first ever British & Irish Cup match against Coventry at Butts Stadium on Friday (7.45).

MUNSTER coach Tony McGahan, his management team and players, enter the international break with their confidence levels boosted by Saturday’s bonus point Magners League win over Ulster at Thomond Park.

OCTOBER may only just be ending, but the time for turning talk into action has already arrived for Munster.

Academy prop Davie Kilcoyne has been placed on the bench in a reflection of Munster's propping crisis ahead Saturday's Magner's League clash with Ulster in Thomond Park Stadium.

Barry Murphy returns from injury to take his place in the Munster squad to play Ulster in the Magners League at Thomond Park on Saturday (kick-off 5pm).

ULSTER will be at full-strength for Saturday’s Magners League game against Munster at Thomond Park in stark comparison to their injury-hit hosts.

MUNSTER team manager Shaun Payne has admitted there is no room for further injuries within the group of front row players available to the province, even though he is not yet in the mood to panic.

Prop Darragh Hurley will start for the first time this season as Munster tackle Edinburgh in the Magner's League at Murrayfield tomorrow evening.

MUNSTER manager Shaun Payne yesterday attempted to put a positive spin on the province’s front row crisis by describing the loss of five players as “a big opportunity for a couple of lads”.

Munster coach Tony McGahan has included full-back Felix Jones and tight-head prop Stephen Archer in his squad to prepare for the Magners League game with Edinburgh at Murrayfield on Friday

MUNSTER’S bid to get their Magners League defence back on the track against Edinburgh at Murrayfield on Friday night next is not helped by the fact that they will definitely be without Doug Howlett, Marcus Horan and Tony Buckley, all of whom left the field prematurely during last Saturday’s Heineken Cup victory over Treviso.

EVEN when Munster fell ten points behind Treviso after 23 minutes in the Thomond Park sunshine on Saturday, there was no feeling this was about to become one of the greatest upsets in Heineken Cup history.

Hooker Denis Fogarty comes in for the injured Jerry Flannery as Munster's only change for tomorrow's Heineken Cup clash with Treviso at Thomonds Park.

Munster's prop problems continue as Dave Ryan was ruled out of the squad to prepare for the Heineken Cup game against Treviso this Saturday in Thomond Park.

THE majority of the Munster team that under-performed so disappointingly against Leinster last week have an opportunity to redeem themselves in this evening’s Heineken Cup opener against Northampton Saints at Franklin’s Gardens.

Coach Tony McGahan has reverted to the tried and tested by bringing captain Paul O'Connell, David Wallace, Alan Quinlan, Jerry Flannery and Paul Warwick into the Munster side to play Nothampton Saints in the Heineken Cup at Franklin's Gardens tomorrow evening.

MUNSTER have yet to receive a written copy of the IRFU disciplinary committee’s report on the suspension imposed on John Hayes, and will delay a decision on whether to appeal the severity of the six-week ban until they do so.

Ireland's Ronan O'Gara, Keith Earls and Donncha O'Callaghan and Auckland import Nick Williams will start for Munster for the first time this season in Sunday's sold-out Musgrave Park Magners League clash with the Dragons (5.05pm).

Ireland scrum-half Tomas O'Leary will make his return to the Munster jersey against The Scarlets in the Magner's League at Parc Y Scarlets tomorrow.

Munster have named a 25-strong squad for their Magners League opener with Glasgow Warriors in Firhill.

MUNSTER back-row forward Nick Williams faces at least six weeks out following knee surgery, but the Magners League champions will still have something to smile about for then new season.

Ireland prop Marcus Horan and Ireland A lock Donnacha Ryan will make their first appearances of the season for Munster against Leicester Tigers in a pre-season friendly at Welford Road on Friday evening (7.30 pm).

Danny Riordan, Toby Morland and Damien Varley will make their Munster debuts in Friday’s friendly against Sale Sharks, while Julien Brugnaut has been named amongst the replacements.