Payne barrier for Munster ahead of clash with Dragons

SHAUN PAYNE has failed to recover from the viral influenza that caused him to miss last week’s Celtic League tie against Ulster and is out of the Munster team to play the Gwent Dragons in the Heineken Cup at Rodney Parade tomorrow (1pm).

Payne is a huge loss, all the more so because he will be replaced by Mossie Lawler, Jeremy Manning or Barry Murphy, none of whom has the same experience, especially at Heineken Cup level.

On the plus side, David Wallace has recovered from a thigh injury, and will take his place at number seven.