Payne in for Staunton

JEREMY STAUNTON, who has struggled in many of his matches this year, has lost his place on the Munster team.

Shaun Payne takes over at full-back in one of three changes, one positional, on the side to take on Connacht in the Celtic League at Dubarry Park, Athlone, this evening, kick-off 7pm.

Payne filled in for the injured Anthony Horgan on the left wing in the recent Heineken Cup matches against Bourgoin and Treviso. Horgan has now recovered from his hamstring trouble and coach Alan Gaffney has kept faith with Payne by moving him to full-back, It’s a bad blow for Staunton who was already under pressure after the signing of Kiwi, Christian Cullen, recovering from a shoulder injury. The other change from the side that defeated Treviso is at tight head prop where Scottish international Gordon McIlwham is called up in place of John Hayes, still bothered by the calf muscle injury picked up in the game against the Italians. Hayes is likely to be fully fit for next week’s Heineken Cup clash at Gloucester. Tonight’s teams find themselves in mid-table in the Celtic League and even with 13 rounds to go, need to win most of their remaining matches to claim the title. Connacht will be all out to achieve what would be regarded as a major result for the Cinderella province and Munster anxious to regain the level of performance that saw them to impressive pre-Christmas wins over Cardiff, Bourgoin and Treviso.

Additional spice is added by the strong Munster influence in the Connacht camp. They are, of course, coached by Michael Bradley, who campaigned so successfully in Munster’s number nine shirt. Putting one over on his native province would give him the deepest satisfaction and also lift the morale of the entire Connacht squad as they build up to next week’s Parker Pen Shield clash with Pau.

The game also provides back-row forwards John O’Sullivan and Paul Neville, both Munstermen, with the ideal opportunity to make a point. Having failed to interest Alan Gaffney when it came to dishing out Munster contracts, they were glad to accept Connacht’s overtures. O’Sullivan and Neville have, in turn, repaid the western side with outstanding performances and, with Michael Swift, complete a very useful back-row.

A further source of encouragement for coach Bradley is that full-back Mark McHugh and second-row Andrew Farley yesterday confirmed their fitness. Both missed the recent Parker Pen Shield victory over Beziers while Mike Walls also returns at scrum-half. Peter Bracken, the big prop who was contracted to Munster a couple of years ago, has recovered from a knee cruciate operation and is included in the replacements along with yet another forward with close Munster connections, hooker John Fogarty.

Given that the game will be played in front of an enthusiastic, capacity 4,000 strong Dubarry Park crowd and on a heavy pitch, Munster will surely be hard pressed to make their greater levels of experience and skill pay to the extent of yielding to bag the five pointer Gaffney believes to be crucial if they are to get back into title contention. Connacht will be up for this game in a big way and the Munster pack will get the test they need in the build-up to Gloucester next week.

Meanwhile Leinster have received a body blow to their chances of Celtic League victory over Ulster at Donnybrook this evening (7.35). With internationals Brian O’Driscoll and Shane Horgan already ruled out, Christian Warner is struggling to play in this crucial clash. Leinster coach Gary Ella has Argentina star Felipe Contepomi to fall back on. He will play outside centre as a replacement for O’Driscoll or at number ten for Warner.

Eight points adrift of leaders Ulster, Ella declared yesterday: “We could have done without this injury crisis. The good thing is that these guys should be fit for the Heineken Cup, but we also want to perform in the Celtic League and this could be our last opportunity to push for the title.

“We desperately need to win to maintain a serious interest. Otherwise, I reckon it could be curtains for us.”

Rival Ulster coach Alan Solomons believes his side’s biggest test could come this evening. Ulster, recently crowned Celtic Cup champions, head the league campaign after nine games. However, the battle is far from over, believes Solomons, whose side took advantage when other teams had to play without their stars for the duration of the World Cup.

“We have to recognise that some of our opponents played with less than full sides. We’re very happy with our displays, but we must also be conscious that other teams are stronger now than than in the early stages.

“Leinster, for instance, have most of their top players back in action. Yet, even though they lost some ground during the World Cup, they’re still very much in contention. “If they beat us they are very much back in the hunt and that’s why this is such an important game from our point of view.”

Ella, despite the disruptions in his back division, believes the game will be decided up front.

“Ulster have been playing very well as a unit, but I have been particularly impressed by the pack where Robbie Kempson and Matt Sexton have made huge contributions. Also, they have a very good back three and David Humphreys has been brilliant. All in all, it will be a big task for us.”

The game has aroused considerable interest in Dublin 4. “From what I can gather, the game is almost a sell-out. Hopefully that will be a source of encouragement to the boys.”

LEINSTER (probable): G. D’Arcy, J. McWeeney, F. Contepomi/C. Warner, D. Quinlan, B. Burke, C. Warner/M. Leek, B. O’Meara, R. Corrigan (captain), S. Byrne, P. Coyle, M. O’Kelly, B. Gissing, A. McCullen, V. Costello, K. Gleeson. Replacements, J. Moran, G. Hickie, D. Dillon, S. Jennings, B. O’Riordan, F. Contepomi, D. Quinlan.

ULSTER: P. Wallace, J. Topping, S. Stewart, P. Steinmetz, T. Howe, D. Humphreys, N. Doak, R. Kempson, M. Sexton, S. Best, M. Mustchin, R. Frost, A. Ward (captain), R. Wilson, N. Best.

Replacements. R. Moore, P. Shields, M. McCullough, W. Brosnihan, K. Campbell, A. Larkin, B. Cunningham.

CONNACHT - M. McHugh; M. Mostyn, D. Yapp, T. Allnutt, C. McPhillips; E. Elwood, M. Walls; D. McFarland, B. Jackman, A. Clarke, D. Browne, A. Farley, M. Swift, P. Neville, J. O’Sullivan. Replacements, J. Fogarty, P. Bracken, M. McCarthy, M. Lacey; C. O’Loughlin, D. Hewitt, T. Robinson.

MUNSTER - S. Payne; J. Kelly, M. Mullins, R. Henderson, A. Horgan; R. O’Gara, P. Stringer; M. Horan, F. Sheahan, G. McIlwham, D. O’Callaghan, P. O’Connell, J. Williams, D. Wallace, A. Foley. Replacements, J. Blaney, S. Kerr, S. Keogh, D. Pusey; E. Reddan, J. Staunton, J. Holland.