Munster denied star players

MUNSTER coach Alan Gaffney will again be without his international players when the Heineken Cup finalists play their final pre-season match against Connacht a week tomorrow.

Munster take on their provincial rivals in Galway on August 23 before beginning their Celtic League campaign in Llanelli eight days later.

The pre-season campaign kicked off in encouraging style at Thomond Park on Tuesday night when Gaffney used 29 mostly fringe players in the 31-10 defeat of an equally under-strength Bristol Shoguns side.