O’Connor gets all-clear for Puma test

JOHNNY O’CONNOR will line out for Ireland against Argentina at Lansdowne Road tomorrow after recovering fully from a knee injury.

The Irish flanker, who made a starring debut in Ireland’s win over South Africa two weeks ago, picked up the injury in training earlier this week, but was given the all-clear yesterday.

But while Denis Leamy was released by Ireland to join the Munster squad for a Celtic League game with Edinburgh this evening, he has been left on the bench by Alan Gaffney.

Instead, Gaffney has chosen Alan Quinlan and David Wallace on either side of Stephen Keogh, who makes his number eight debut for Munster.

Gaffney said: “We are in the lucky position of having very strong back row personnel and it’s a question once again of giving guys game time and a fair chance to tie down a place in the side. Denis had a game last week but Wally missed out through injury so we’ll give him (Wallace) a start.”

With Christian Cullen back in the side, Shaun Payne reverts to the wing at the expense of Paul Devlin, with Mike Mullins and Rob Henderson retaining the centre partnership.

Paul Burke will captain the side in the absence of Jim Williams, off duty after the birth of a son this week.

Gary Brown has recovered from injury and will start at left wing for Leinster’s clash with Glasgow at Donnybrook this evening.

Kieran Lewis starts on the other wing, with Clontarf’s David Hewitt at full-back.

David Quinlan partners Christian Warner at centre.

Emmett Byrne and Leo Cullen return from Ireland’s training camp and are named in the side.

Glasgow have left a blank at tight head as Euan Murray was sent off in the league match against Llanelli at Hughenden last Friday. News from the SRU’s disciplinary committee is awaited. Apart from that, Glasgow have an unchanged team from the 40-29 win over the Welsh side.

LEINSTER: D. Hewitt, K. Lewis, C. Warner, D. Quinlan, G. Brown, D. Holwell, B. O’Meara, E. Byrne, D. Blaney, R. Nebbett, L. Cullen (captain), B. Gissing, C. Potts, A. McCullen, S. Jennings. Replacements: J. Lyne, G. Hickie, A. McCullen, N. Ronan, B. O’Riordan, J. Norton, J. McWeeney.

GLASGOW: C. Shaw, R. Kerr, A. Craig, G. Maclure, K. Logan (captain), C. Howarth, G. Beveridge, K. Tkachuk, S. Lawson, A. N. Other, A. Hall, D. Turner, C. Mather, J. Beattie, A. Wilson. Replacements: F. Thompson, A. Kelly/E. Milligan, J. Beardshaw, S. Swindall/J. van der Schyff, S. Pinder, C. Gregor, D. Millard.

MUNSTER: C Cullen; S Payne, M Mullins, R Henderson, M Lawlor; P Burke capt, M Prendergast; F Roche, J Blaney, G McIlwham; T Hogan, T Bowman; A Quinlan, D Wallace, S Keogh. Replacements: E McGovern, D Fogarty, T Hayes, D Leamy, E Reddan, J Holland, J Storey.