Four changes as Munster seek to regain cutting edge

SOMETHING had to give after last week’s disappointing performance and so it’s no surprise coach Alan Gaffney has made four changes, one positional, in the Munster side to tackle Castres Olympique in this evening’s crucial Heineken European Cup tie at Thomond Park.

Castres counterpart Christophe Urios has also wielded the axe, although in his case his hands were tied by injuries to key players Brad Fleming, Yannick Delaigue and Mario Ledesma. Nevertheless, he has replaced Irish international Justin Fitzpatrick in the front-row with the Argentinian international Mauricio Reggiardo. In a reshuffled back five he has switched another Puma, Rodrigo Capo Ortega, from the blindside flank to the second-row instead of Nicolas Spanghero, who isn’t even on the bench.

David Wallace has met the same fate with Munster. He and fellow flanker Jim Williams have paid the penalty for relatively quiet performances last week and are replaced by the fit-again Denis Leamy and Alan Quinlan.