Staunton’s speed in space a tactic for Musgrave Park clash

JEREMY STAUNTON will be encouraged to make use of his pace in the wide, open spaces of Musgrave Park on Friday night.

Munster take on Ebbw Vale in their first home match of the Celtic League campaign and have made nine changes from the side that defeated Llanelli.

Some changes were forced upon coach Alan Gaffney by Ireland’s international with Romania, but he has still taken the opportunity to experiment and one of those alterations sees Staunton take over from Dominic Crotty at full back.

“He likes space and he could get that at full back. We had to balance this selection and want to utilise a bit of flair with some sensible rugby,” Gaffney said.

The “sensible” side of Gaffney’s argument appears to be in the selection of Killian Keane at out half.

“He is a very solid player with a good boot and good distribution skills. He has trained very well after recovering from injury and I felt he deserved an opportunity.”

John O’Neill returns to the side after injury and Jim Williams is back as captain. Williams had to withdraw from the Llanelli game for personal reasons.

Newcomers Dominic Malone and Simon Kerr make their first competitive starts in place of Peter Stringer and John Hayes.

Former Irish international Eric Elwood is doubtful for Connacht for Friday’s Celtic League game against Cardiff at the Sportsground (with a kick-off at 6pm).

Elwood, the most capped player in Connacht history, had to retire in the 28-27 win away to Borders on Friday night with a rib injury. His place at fly-half has been left vacant in a Connacht side which shows one other forced change.

Paul Neville has been drafted in at wing-forward in place of Ireland A international Johnny O’Connor, who suffered an ankle injury and had to retire just before the break in the narrow win at Selkirk.

Jonathan Bell will lead Ulster out for Friday’s Celtic League encounter with Edinburgh. He skippers the side due to the withdrawal of international flanker Andy Ward, who is sidelined with a persistent foot injury.

Coach Alan Solomons is also awaiting a fitness test on Lions lock Jeremy Davidson, who picked up a badly-bruised hip in the 19-0 victory over Ebbw Vale last week.

MUNSTER: J. Staunton, J. O’Neill, M. Mullins, J. Holland, M. Lawlor, K. Keane, D. Malone, M.

Horan, J. Blaney, S. Kerr, M. Galwey, M. O’Driscoll, A. Quinlan/E. Halvey, J. Williams (captain), C. McMahon. Replacements: J. Fogarty, D. O’Callaghan, A.N. Other, M. Prendergast, C. Mahony, D. Crotty.

CONNACHT: M. McHugh; T. Robinson, D. Yapp, T. Allnutt (captain), W. Munn; E. Reddan; R. McCormack, M. Uijs, P. Bracken; W. Waugh, R. Frost; M. Swift, E. Peters, P. Neville.

Replacements: D. McFarland, H. Bourke, C. Rigney, J. O’Sullivan, C. Keane, S. Moore, D. O’Sullivan.

ULSTER: B. Cunningham; S. Coulter; J. Bell, R. Constable, T. Howe; P. Wallace, N. Doak; R. Kempson, M. Sexton, S. Best, T. McWhirter or M. Blair or Davidson, W. Brosnihan, N. McMillan, R. Nelson.