Gaffney to go for experience

SEVEN or eight players good enough to represent any team in the Heineken Cup sat in the Thomond Park stand on Saturday watching their Munster comrades battle their way to a hard earned victory over Perpignan.

Injury has taken its toll on the squad but the good news, says coach Alan Gaffney, is Paul O'Connell, Donnacha O'Callaghan and Anthony Horgan will be back in time for the home and away games against the Italian side Viadana on Friday, December 6, at Musgrave Park and December 15 in Italy.

And Jeremy Staunton, who cried off on the eve of the Perpignan match with a stomach muscle injury, is in line for inclusion in the side to face Caerphilly in the final qualifying round of the Celtic League at Thomond Park on Friday night. Only the luckless David Wallace and Rob Henderson remain on the long-term injured list.