Galwey set to lead Munster into battle

Having had a chance to recharge his batteries, Munster captain Mick Galwey is ready to roll into action once again when he leads the side against Leinster at Musgrave Park tomorrow evening.

Although disappointed that a knee ligament injury kept him out of contention for a place in the Irish team for the autumn internationals against Japan and South Africa, the 34-year-old is feeling much better for the experience.

"There is never a good time to pick up an injury and when it happens around the time internationals are being played then it is even more disappointing. Still, it could have happened at an even worse time and indeed the injury could have been more serious, so from that point of view I am pretty thankful."

Galwey has managed to play three games for Shannon in the AIB League recently and is happy with his level of fitness.

"The knee feels absolutely fine and I am feeling fresh and relaxed at the moment. I’m looking forward to this game against Leinster and particularly to our remaining couple of pool games in the Heineken European Cup.

"Because we haven’t played as a team for a number of weeks it was important to organise this particular fixture. It’s a good game for both teams because we are each in the shake-up to make it to the quarter finals.

"I’m sure it will be a competitive match as all games between the two provinces are and we will know a little bit more tomorrow about how we stand as we prepare for the match with Newport in Wales on Saturday week.

"Leinster will be treating the fixture equally seriously because, like us, they are taking on opposition who have had the benefit of playing matches together since their last European outing."

In an ideal world, Galwey would have liked Munster to have a three match build-up to the European tie.

"We were going pretty well earlier in the season but we really don’t know if we can continue that until we get together in match situations. It is not the perfect situation to have just one game before travelling to Newport but at least against Leinster it should be a pretty meaningful warm-up."

If Galwey is fighting fit the same cannot be said of other Munster players. Coach Declan Kidney yesterday decided to postpone naming his side following injuries in training to Donnacha O’Callaghan and Dominic Crotty.

Already, Kidney’s plans have been disrupted because of injuries to Mike Mullins, Jason Holland, Mick O’Driscoll and Anthony Horgan.

Yesterday, O’Callaghan had stitches inserted in a head wound and Crotty sustained a leg muscle strain.

With so many of the back division struggling, Kidney felt it would be wiser to wait until today or even possibly tomorrow to finalise his starting line up.

He said first choice halfbacks Ronan O’Gara and Peter Stringer would be in a position to play and Munster’s front row forwards were all available for selection.

"We could have chosen some of the side but would have had to leave vacancies in various positions. We thought it better to leave it until later so that we can fully assess the situation. Hopefully, things will have improved by Friday."

Leinster coach Matt Williams named Brian O’Driscoll and Shane Horgan in the side when he announced it yesterday although both are still recovering from injury. O’Driscoll is unlikely to play the whole game and it is not known if Horgan will even be able to start.

Bob Casey, also recovering from a knock, hopes to join Malcolm O’Kelly in the second row. Peter Smyth is given a rare start instead of Shane Byrne and in a side captained by former Munster flanker Liam Toland, scrum half Brian O’Meara gets another opportunity to claw his way back to a regular place in the Irish squad, having warmed the bench for the internationals against Japan and South Africa.

It is possible that O’Meara, on foot of impressive goal kicking performances for Cork Constitution, may even share the kicking duties with Eddie Hekenui.

Not considered through injury were Girvan Dempsey, Nathan Turner and Simon Keogh while John McWeeney, injured all season, is likely to be given a place in the team at some stage even though he is not eligible for Leinster’s remaining European Cup pool games. Williams is, assuming Leinster reach the quarter finals of that competition, in a position to alter his 30 man squad for the knockout stages and McWeeney is being given an opportunity to press his claims for such inclusion.

LEINSTER: G. D’Arcy, D. Hickie, B. O’Driscoll, S. Horgan, P. McKenna, E. Hekenui, B. O’Meara, R. Corrigan, P. Smyth, E. Byrne, B. Casey, M. O’Kelly, E. Miller, V. Costello, L. Toland. Replacements. K. Putt, J. Norton, T. Brennan, G. Halpin, G. Hickey, R. Sheriff, S. Byrne.

*THE IRFU has announced that players lining out for Ireland, either for the duration of matches in the Six Nations Championship or as substitutes for 40 minutes or more, will not be available to play for their clubs on a number of dates this year. The dates chosen are February 10 and 24, March 17 and 31.

The Irish squad will gather for training sessions on January 15, 22 and 23 at the ALSAA complex in Dublin Airport.