O’Callaghan and Payne out as Gaffney ponders options
O’Callaghan is troubled by a calf injury and will be rested for another week while Payne picked up a knock against the Cardiff Blues last Saturday is also sidelined.
Coach Alan Gaffney yesterday announced a squad of 26 that includes two second-row options in place of O’Callaghan - Trevor Hogan and Australian Tom Bowman. It is an indication of the strides Hogan has made since the season began that he is now favourite to pack down beside Paul O’Connell.
Gaffney also has options where the second centre spot is concerned.
Interestingly, new recruit James Storey is included in the squad but there is no place for Mike Mullins, an almost ever-present in the side for the past six years.
A spot, though, has been found for Mossy Lawler and he could make the final 22 when the team and replacements are announced on Friday.
“The medical advice was that Donncha O’Callaghan could have started on the bench but we couldn’t take the risk of somebody getting injured in the first minute,” said Gaffney.
“If we were going to play Donncha, he would have started the game. There was a possibility that he wouldn’t have lasted the 80 minutes, he might have made 50, 60, but we couldn’t take that risk. The medical advice is that there is no doubt about him for the week after.
“Trevor Hogan and Tommy Bowman have been playing pretty well. Trevor hasn’t done much wrong, he has improved enormously in 12 months and the 12 months before that again. We are delighted with what he has done.
“Tommy has also done very well for us in two or three Celtic League games and has fitted in very well.”
The management more or less admit that they are deferring final selection of the side until as late as possible so as to decide on their back-row formation given that they have Jim Williams, Denis Leamy, David Wallace, Alan Quinlan and Anthony Foley all available and in-form.
Two of the quintet are going to be very disappointed when the white smoke finally emerges.
“Whatever we do, there will be a lot of people convinced we’ve made the wrong decision,” the coach said.
Even without O’Callaghan, it still looks certain to be a really formidable Munster pack. But there is a burning need for the backs to pack a lot more punch and penetration and the very visible signs that Rob Henderson is returning to something like his best is a source of considerable satisfaction to the coach.
“Hendo had a slow start to the season by his own admission,” Gaffney said. “But he knows himself that he still has steps to take. Shaun [Payne] took a bang last week and while it wasn’t concussion, the medical advice is that it might be a smallish risk for him to play.”
While Gaffney accepts that Kelly “had a strong 40 minutes” in the centre against Cardiff, he is also looking closely at James Storey. But not at Mike Mullins. “Mike hasn’t been in form, there are areas where he has to improve. We’ve all got to start looking at these things. We leaked a bit against Wasps and Stade last year. We’ve got to be strong across the pitch.”
Gaffney has been to England to watch Harlequins in the Zurich Premiership and in spite of the fact that they are propping up the table, believes they have improved appreciably in recent weeks.
There is a strong rumour that scrum-half Matt Henjak has been called home by Australia and, if true, it could well weaken them appreciably.
Saturday of course, also sees a return to Thomond Park for Jeremy Staunton, a Munster regular for five years but now Harlequin’s first choice out-half. Gaffney accepts that it will be tough for Staunton.
“Jeremy is a lovely guy and everybody accepts and respects what he did for Munster. But when he goes on the pitch, we will treat him as a Harlequins man and then we will all sit down and have a beer with him after the match.”
: Backs - P Burke, C Cullen, P Devlin, J Kelly, R Henderson, A Horgan, J Holland, M Lawler, R O’Gara, M Prendergast, P Stringer, J Storey. Forwards - T Bowman, A Foley, J Flannery, M Horan, T Hogan, J Hayes, S Keogh, D Leamy, G McIlwham, P O’Connell, A Quinlan, F Sheahan, D Wallace, J Williams.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
