Pucciarello set to make Euro start for Munster

FEDERICO PUCCIARELLO, born in Rosario, Argentina, and who has made eight appearances for Italy, is set to make his first start in a Heineken Cup match for Munster in Sunday’s semi-final against Leinster at Lansdowne Road.

Coach Declan Kidney yesterday conceded that “Marcus Horan is struggling but we’re going to give him every chance. We’ll make the decision when we have to, we don’t have to do that for another 48 hours. Marcus and physiotherapist Kirsty Peacock have been working really hard on the calf so, in fairness, we’ll give him every chance. But he is struggling.”

Horan would be a huge loss to Munster. He is a high-class loose head prop in every sense of the word having few superiors around the pitch. He is also a formidable scrummager.