Munster big hitters return to boost side

EDINBURGH have made a flying start to the Celtic League campaign, but coach Frank Hadden may be cursing Romania for making their qualification a little bit harder.

The Reivers, sparked by Todd Blackadder and Brendan Laney, anticipated meeting a depleted Munster 15 at Meadowbank on Friday in the third game of Pool A in the Celtic League, as did Connacht coach Steph Nel ahead of their ‘derby’ with Leinster.

However, Irish coach Eddie O’Sullivan has decided to release most of the provincial players instead of holding them under his control in advance of the World Cup qualifying game against Russia the following week.

Brian O’Driscoll and Girvan Dempsey will miss the Connacht clash at Donnybrook but players of the calibre of Reggie Corrigan, Shane Byrne, Paul Wallace, Leo Cullen, Malcolm O’Kelly, Keith Gleeson, Victor Costello, Denis Hickie and Eric Miller are all likely to be named in the side today.

Munster coach Alan Gaffney has named Jason Holland to partner Dominic Malone at half-back and Munster will field an all-international centre partnership of Rob Henderson and Mike Mullins. John Kelly is on one wing and John O’Neill on the other. Jeremy Staunton retains his place at full-back.

Frank Sheahan returns to the side after injury while Mick O’Driscoll and Donnacha O’Callaghan are paired in the second row. Alan Quinlan, Anthony Foley and Jim Williams form a powerful back row.

With just six out of the 14 teams still able to boast a 100% record after two rounds, table-topping Munster will provide Edinburgh with a real examination of their credentials.

However, Edinburgh coach Hadden believes that former All Black captain Blackadder and Scotland full-back Laney have been major influences in their two-from-two record so far.

“Todd came to Edinburgh at just the right time for us, when we had a very young but talented squad,” he said.

“What those talented young players needed was guidance from experienced players, and Todd and Brendan have accelerated that process.

“I am reasonably happy with the way things have gone so far and we are really looking forward to playing Munster, the Heineken Cup finalists and number two team in Europe last season, to see how we have progressed.

“We had a few breaks going our way in Belfast last week and, to be honest, we didn’t play that well against Ulster. But to win at Ravenhill is quite an achievement and we are now taking a more positive attitude with us when we go on the road.

“We want to get on a roll so we start pulling in the crowds and getting the sort of support that the Irish teams get in their home games. They also started from a low base several years ago and look at their fantastic support now.”

Munster coach Gaffney welcomed the surprise availability of his international set, a recognition by the Irish coach that many of his squad are ring rusty following the lack of matches.

Connacht have made four changes from the team that defeated Cardiff last weekend. Three of the changes are up front. Dan McFarland comes in at loose-head for Ronnie McCormack, Johnny O’Connor returns from injury at wing-forward in place of Paul Neville, while John O’Sullivan will make his first competitive start in place of Eric Peters. There is also a change at scrum-half with Chris Keane being selected ahead of Eoin Reddan. Mike Walls is the replacement scrum-half.

MUNSTER: J. Staunton, J. Kelly, R. Henderson, M. Mullins, J. O’Neill, J. Holland, D. Malone, M. Horan, F. Sheahan, J. Hayes, D. O’Callaghan, M. O’Driscoll, J. Williams (captain), A. Foley, A. Quinlan. Replacements. E. Halvey, M. Galwey, J. Blaney, S. Kerr, D. Crotty, K. Keane, M. Prendergast.

CONNACHT: M. McHugh, T. Robinson, D. Yapp, T. Allnutt (captain), W. Munn, E. Elwood, C. Keane, D. McFarland, M. Uijs, P. Bracken, W. Waugh, R. Frost, M. Swift, J. O’Sullivan, J. O’Connor.

Replacements. R. McCormack, J. Flannery, C. Rigney, P. Neville, M. Walls, S. Moore, D. O’Sullivan.