Munster’s reserves the envy of most sides

ANYBODY doubting the strength in depth in the Munster camp should be reassured by the side being fielded by coach Alan Gaffney for tomorrow’s Celtic League tie against Glasgow at Thomond Park (kick-off 5pm).

The game is being refereed by the South African Jonathan Kaplan, who will also be in charge of next week’s Ireland-England RBS Six Nations clash at Lansdowne Road and the meeting of Scotland and Wales the following weekend.

Even though Ronan O’Gara, Peter Stringer, John Hayes, Paul O’Connell and Anthony Foley are unavailable, Christian Cullen is rested entirely and Rob Henderson and Jim Williams start on the bench, Gaffney’s line-up would still be the envy of most sides in the competition.

Seven of the eight forwards, for instance, are internationals, the odd man out being the fast emerging Shannon second-row Trevor Hogan.

With Marcus Horan and Frankie Sheahan in the front-row, Donnacha O’Callaghan in the second-row and back-rowers Alan Quinlan and Denis Leamy all released by national coach Eddie O’Sullivan, there is a solid core all through the pack with David Wallace reverting to his one-time regular position of number eight.

The back division certainly doesn’t look quite as awesome but it’s full of experience for all that with John Kelly’s return after long term injury a potential highlight. He has been badly missed for the best part of the last three months.

Glasgow will also be short several regulars as Matt Williams, the Scottish national coach, concentrates his squad on the make-or-break Six Nations clash with Italy at Murrayfield next Saturday.

Glasgow coaches Hugh Campell and Sean Lineen have yet to finalise their side but it is most unlikely to include Andy Craig, Sean Lamont, Dan Parks, Gordon Bulloch and Jon Petrie, all of whom lined out for Scotland against Ireland last Saturday.

They haven’t got the same reserve strength as Munster and having gone five games in all competitions without a win - losing each of their last eight outings on the road, they may have good reason to face the trip to Thomond Park with a certain degree of trepidation.

This is the first visit of any Scottish side to Munster’s Limerick fortress and anything other than a decisive home victory, preferably with a bonus point, will satisfy the home fans.

Gaffney’s men could badly do with a five pointer given that the Neath-Swansea Ospreys lead them by seven points at the top of the table. The Ospreys look a racing certainty to extract further largesse from today’s home clash at the Gnoll with the Scottish Borders, who currently prop up the table (kick-off 5.30pm)

MUNSTER: S. Payne; J. Kelly, J. Storey, J. Holland, A. Horgan; P. Burke, E. Reddan; M. Horan, F. Sheahan, G. McIlwham, T. Hogan, D. O’Callaghan, A. Quinlan, D. Leamy, D. Wallace. Replacements, E. McGovern, J. Flannery, T. Bowman, J. Williams, M. Prendergast, R. Henderson, P. Devlin.