Gaffney shuffles squad for Connacht tie

SQUAD rotation is the name of the game where the Munster team to face Connacht in the Celtic League at the Galway Sportsground on Monday (kick-off 2pm) is concerned.

Regular half-backs Ronan O’Gara and Peter Stringer are out of the equation and will be able to enjoy their Christmas dinner, a remark that also applies to centres Rob Henderson and Mike Mullins. Paul Burke and Eoin Reddan take over at half-back from O’Gara and Stringer, while Jason Holland, James Storey and Paul Devlin all come into a radically altered three-quarter line.

The forward pack has a more customary appearance to it, with Marcus Horan and John Hayes at prop, Donncha O’Callaghan and Paul O’Connell in the second-row and Denis Leamy and Anthony Foley in the back-row.

However, coach Alan Gaffney is also taking the opportunity to run the rule over hooker Jerry Flannery and blindside flanker Stephen Keogh. Frankie Sheahan, Alan Quinlan and Shaun Payne are all included among the replacements.

Connacht coach Michael Bradley may now wait until the day of the match before finalising his side. He announced a panel of 25 yesterday that includes Darren Yapp and Matt Lacey, both of whom are extremely doubtful, while there’s a good chance that former Ireland scrum-half Tom Tierney will make an appearance at some stage of the game against his former team-mates.

In the meantime, new Ireland sensation Tommy Bowe has signed a four-year full professional contract for Ulster which will keep him with the province until 2008.

Bowe, who made his international debut against the US Eagles in November, had previously been on a development contract for the past two seasons.

The 20-year-old winger has been a sensation since he was introduced to the Ulster senior side by Alan Solomons. An engineering student, Bowe played Division Three rugby with Queen’s University until he became a permanent fixture in the Ulster team at the start of this season.

Bowe is certain to start in the Celtic League derby battle at Donnybrook on Monday when Ulster travel to face a full-strength Leinster outfit.

However, coach Mark McCall has just named a 26-man squad for the trip and will not be announcing his starting line-up until noon on Sunday.

McCall’s biggest worry is fly-half David Humphreys, who is one of four players on the treatment table.

“We have a number of players who remain doubtful with David Humphreys the biggest worry with a foot injury,’’ said McCall.

“I was reluctant to name a team until we are more sure of the players’ availability as there are only five days before out next match against Connacht.’’

Hooker Paul Shields and lock Matt McCullough have ankle injuries while Neil Best is still carrying an elbow problem.

McCall says that his team will travel down to Dublin as big underdogs. “A strong Leinster team is probably one of the best in Europe at present,’’ said McCall.

“They will see themselves as favourites as well. But we are not going down to make up the numbers. We want to win this game.

“The following week is an even more important game. It is a must-win game for us against Connacht in relation to finishing ahead of them in the League. We cannot determine was Connacht do in other games, but it will be up to us to do the business against them on New Year’s Day.’’

McCall has added Best, Nigel Brady, Paddy Wallace and Jonny Bell to the side that defeated Edinburgh 36-34 last Friday.

ULSTER SQUAD: (backs): Cunningham, Bowe, Maggs, Steinmetz, Howe, Humphreys, Campbell, Doak, Larkin, Maxwell, Bell, Wallace. (Forwards): McCormack, Shields, Moore, Longwell, McCullough, Feather, Pfister, Wilson, R Best, N Brady, S Best, N Best, Frost, Mustchin.

MUNSTER: C. Cullen; P. Devlin, J. Storey, J. Holland, A. Horgan; P. Burke, E. Reddan; M. Horan, J. Flannery, J. Hayes, P. O’Connell, D. O’Callaghan, S. Keogh, D. Leamy, A. Foley. Replacements - M. Storey, F. Sheahan, T. Hogan, A. Quinlan, M. Prendergast, S. Payne, M. Lawler.

CONNACHT SQUAD: forwards A. Clarke, R. Hogan, B. Jackman, J. Fogarty, S. Knoop, P. Bracken, P. Myburgh, C. Short, A. Farley, J. Muldoon, M. Swift, M. Lacey, J. O’Sullivan; backs C. Keane, M. Walls, T. Tierney, E. Elwood, P. warwick, J. Downey, C. McPhillips, T. Robinson, D. Yapp, N. O’Brien, J. Meagher, M. Mostyn.