Kelly and Holland back in action for Connacht clash

JOHN KELLY and Jason Holland are back in action for Munster against Connacht at Musgrave Park on Saturday night.

There have been no major changes in the team defeated by the Ospreys last weekend, and coach Alan Gaffney has resisted the temptation to take on board Frankie Sheahan, David Wallace and John Hayes.

All three of those players were available for selection after participating in a Munster session over the last few days, but Gaffney is holding back.

He believes that the so-called second-string side can do the business.

Sure enough, the front five of Frankie Roche, Jerry Flannery and Gordon McIlWham, in the second row, of Shane O'Connor and Trevor Hogan might experience difficulties in the tight, but Munster still have a superb back row combination in Stephen Keogh, Denis Leamy and captain Jim Williams and plenty to offer from the backs.

Connacht, after their heroics last season and a great start to the new campaign, have decided to hold back on selection because coach Michael Bradley is awaiting fitness reports on Darren Yapp, Dan McFarland, Mark McHugh and Michael Smith.

Mark McCall's Ulster side face Leinster at Ravenhill this week and the coach wants to strengthen an early challenge for the title.

"Hopefully we can get a big crowd for our opening home game at Ravenhill, and they get behind the players," he said.

The game against Leinster is Ulster's first Saturday game since 1998 when they famously defeated Toulouse on the way to European Cup success.

"Maybe that's an omen," said McCall.

McCall has named an unchanged back-line from last weekend's opening victory against Edinburgh.

Up front there are two changes. Simon Best has been released by the national management and starts, while Roger Wilson returns from an ankle injury to take his place at No 8. Lock Matt McCullough also returns.

Leinster have recalled Brian O'Meara to the side at scrum half in place of Brian O'Riordan who drops down to a bench that also includes Victor Costello.

ULSTER: B. Cunningham, T. Bowe, J. Bell, P. Steinmetz, A. Maxwell, P. Wallace, N. Doak, S. Best, P. Shields, R. Moore, M. Mustchin, R. Frost, A. Ward (captain), R. Wilson, N. Best.

Replacements: N. Brady, R. McCormack, M. McCullough, C. Feather, K. Campbell, S. Mallon, S.Young.

LEINSTER: J. Norton, J. McWeeney, C. Warner, D. Quinlan, G. Brown, D. McAllister, B. O'Meara, E. Byrne, G. Hickie, P. Coyle, L. Cullen, B. Gissing, A. McCullen, D. Dillon, S. Jennings. Replacements. R. Nebbett/A'Donnell, D. Blaney, C. Potts, V. Costello, B. O'Riordan, K. Lewis, C. Kilroy.

MUNSTER: C. Cullen, J. Kelly, S. Payne, J. Holland, A. Horgan, P. Burke, M. Prendergast, F. Roche, J. Flannery, G. McIlwham, S. O'Connor, T. Hogan, S. Keogh, J. Williams, D. Leamy. Replacements: J. Blaney, E. McGovern, D. Ryan, J. O'Connor, E. Reddan, J. Storey, R. Henderson.