Payne relief for Munster ahead of crunch Cup clashes

AFTER a six-week absence, Munster’s Shaun Payne may be set to return for Saturday’s Heineken Cup tie against the Newport Gwent Dragons at Thomond Park.

Payne has been invaluable to coach Declan Kidney due to the long-term injury to Christian Cullen, but hasn’t played since the win over Castres due to an attack of pneumonia which resulted in a considerable loss of weight.

Jeremy Manning and Mossie Lawler stood in for Payne in Munster’s most recent games and did reasonably well.