Munster to face top Tigers

Barry Coughlan, Leicester

Irish newcomers Leo Cullen and Shane Jennings are included in a side that also features big names Daryl Gibson, Alesana Tuilagi, Andy Goode, Harry Ellis, George Chuter, Alex Moreno and Will Johnson.

But a study of the list of replacements leaves no doubt about Howard’s intent, as Graham Rowntree, Ben Kay, Leon Lloyd, Austin Healey and club captain Martin Corry are all Tigers likely to be sprung from the bench.

The reason for not starting Leicester’s international Lions players was simple, according to Howard. “We have had to be careful about integrating them back into the team. You can’t train hard and play hard all at once. I’ve had to monitor each player individually, conscious that the league is starting in just a week.

“There’s also the situation with the Rugby Union and whether we will be allowed to use those top players. If it’s an even playing field with the other clubs, we will have to be happy with that.”

But players’ needs differ, said Howard, who explained: “There are some guys who are champing at the bit to play; I know that Martin Corry is very keen to lead out his Leicester Tigers, which is a great thing for him to feel. There are other guys who mentally or physically will need time to get themselves right. It’s a balancing act.”

With Leicester facing Northampton away in the Guinness Premiership opener, Howard could have done without the controversy surrounding scrum half Harry Ellis and prop Julian White, both of whom have been reported to be in dispute with the club in relation to new contracts, due to be signed for next season.

Howard played this down and included Ellis in his side for Friday.

“These things happen all the time; the reason it has come out now is that we’re all anxious to nail down deals with these two valuable members of our squad. It will all come down to whether we can find a common financial arrangement that everyone is

happy about. My total focus right now is the rugby side of things, I’ll leave

contractual matters to others.

“These stories emerge from other clubs from time to time. People have different ways of dealing with it; some agents deal with it privately, others do it through the press. That’s life, but I’m sure the matters will be resolved . In the meantime, we’re all going to concentrate on the game, which Howard believes as “very important” in the context of the new season.

Having lost to Connacht in Galway last week, he expects even tougher opposition on Friday. “I’m not sure what kind of team they will bring. I’m sure they will be doing their own share of experimenting, but I also know that you never get an easy game from Munster. I think it will do us a power of good before next week’s league tie.

“We started with a trial against

Borders, it was a building exercise against Connacht, and this one will be a gauge of where we are. I expect it to be physical, that we will take our points when they are on offer, and we intend to play the way we will have to in tight Premiership games. This team is pretty close to the one we are likely to put out against Northampton.”

The Munster team was due to be announced yesterday but has been

deferred by 24 hours, with coach

Declan Kidney assessing a couple of minor injury problems before deciding on the make-up of the squad.

Kidney is known to have discussed the possibility of bringing some of his international players with the IRFU during the week, but will still have to plan for this game without most of them, who are involved in a 10 week pre-season Irish training programme.

Meanwhile, there are reports that Mike Mullins, who damaged an Achilles tendon in a first-half fall during Friday’s 20-18 win over Northampton, has already undergone surgery, after which a more accurate idea of the length of recovery time will be known.

LEICESTER: S.Vesty, A. Tuilagi, D. Hipkiss, D. Gibson (captain), T. Varndell, A. Goode, H. Ellis, M. Holford, G. Chuter, A. Moreno, J. Hamilton, L. Cullen, B. Deacon, W. Johnson, S. Jennings.

Replacements: E. Toukafa, G. Rowntree, B. Kay, L. Abraham, M. Corry, S. Bernard, R. Broadfoot. L. Lloyd, A. Healey.