Sheahan ruled outfor Scarlets clash

ALTHOUGH Frankie Sheahan is a late defection due to a calf injury, Munster face Llanelli Scarlets at Stradey Park this evening (5.30pm) confident of a record-equalling 10th successive victory in the Celtic League.

A favourable result will keep the pressure on long-time pacesetters Neath-Swansea Ospreys, who play Glasgow in a tricky encounter at Hughendon later this evening. The Ospreys are five points ahead of Munster but have played a game more.

“This is a big match for both teams,” insisted Munster coach Alan Gaffney.

“We want to keep the impetus going after a great run in the Celtic League.

“Llanelli won’t want to finish fourth of the four Welsh teams, not least because it would also mean they were out of next season’s Heineken Cup.”

Gaffney added that Sheahan’s injury is not serious. “It was 50-50 whether he played but we decided not to take the risk,” he said. He is replaced by Jerry Flannery.

Llanelli have lost their last three matches against Northampton and Toulouse in the Heineken Cup and Edinburgh last week in the Celtic League.

The Scarlets emerged victorious at Thomond Park in September 2003 by 19-3, with all their points coming from out-half Gareth Bowen.

Bowen was again the architect of a 37-20 Llanelli victory in February 2004 when he contributed a try, four conversions and penalty at Stradey.

In the current campaign, however, Munster prevailed by 19-13 at Thomond Park in September.

Gaffney demonstrated his intent by selecting a full-strength pack before Sheahan’s news broke, while the return of Ronan O’Gara after missing Heineken Cup action should make for a more fluent performance by the back division.

With the composition of the back-row one of the few areas where some doubt remains in the Irish team for Rome, special interest will centre on the performance of Llanelli skipper Simon Easterby as he lines out against the Munster trio of Alan Quinlan, Denis Leamy and Anthony Foley.

While Foley and Easterby are probably sure of their places against Italy, Leamy and Quinlan are a threat to Jonny O’Connor at number seven.

MUNSTER: C Cullen; P Devlin, J Holland, S Payne, A Horgan; R O’Gara, P Stringer; M Horan, J Flannery, J Hayes, P O’Connell, D O’Callaghan, A Quinlan, D Leamy, A Foley (capt).

Replacements: G McIlwham, F Roche, T Hogan, D Wallace; E Reddan, M Mullins, M Lawler.

LLANELLI SCARLETS: G Evans; A Havili, M Watkins, S Finau, T Selley; G Bowen, M Phillips; P John, R McBryde, J Davies, V Cooper, C Wyatt, S Easterby (capt), G Thomas, A Powell.

Replacements, D Maddock, M Rees, D Duley, J Mills; C McDonald, A Thomas, B Davies.

Referee: Andy Ireland (SRU).

DESPITE losing their last two Celtic League assignments to Munster and The Borders, the portents for a Leinster win seem more than favourable against the Newport Gwent Dragons at Lansdowne Road tomorrow, reports Brendan O’Brien.

Declan Kidney’s side may only be one slot and two points ahead of their Welsh guests, but it is 10 months since the hosts lost a match of any description in Dublin.

For their part, the Dragons appear to lack fire in their bellies on the road, failing to record a single success away from their own Rodney Parade patch since late October.

Ten of Eddie O’Sullivan’s squad members, as well as fringe panellist Leo Cullen, return to the first 15 ahead of Ireland’s trip to Rome. But Kidney will be aware that the province’s unbeaten Celtic League record came unstuck in Rodney Parade back in October on a day when he also welcomed back a host of his international names.

LEINSTER: G Dempsey, S Horgan, B O’Driscoll, G D’Arcy, D Hickie, D Holwell, G Easterby; R Corrigan, S Byrne, E Byrne, L Cullen, M O’Kelly, C Potts, N Ronan, E Miller.

DRAGONS: S Tuipulotu; G Wyatt, P Montgomery, S Winn, B Breeze; C Warlow, G Baber; R Snow, J Richards, C Anthony, N Edwards, P Sidoli, J Ringer, J Forster (capt), R Oakley.

Referee: David Changleng (Scotland).