O’Meara returns for Munster cover job

BRIAN O’MEARA will be back in Munster colours this season for the first time in six years, having been drafted into the squad on a part-time basis as scrum-half cover.

O’Meara’s contract with Leinster ended this summer and he could also figure as out-half replacement and possible goal-kicker should injury hit either Ronan O’Gara or Jeremy Manning.

For the moment, with development player Chris Delooze and academy member Duncan Williams sidelined through injury, the plan is to have him as cover for the number nine position.

In addition to the 33 Heineken Cup caps he has accumulated, the 30-year old has also been capped nine times by Ireland, his last appearance as a replacement in an August 2003 international against Italy.

Prior to his switch to Leinster, he won eight Heineken Cup caps for Munster, his last appearance in the side that defeated Neath 34-10 in Musgrave Park, September 1998.

He went on to play more than 100 times for Leinster.

Meanwhile, as Leinster move on without O’Meara, coach Michael Cheika reflected on this weekend’s game against Edinburgh at Donnybrook (Saturday, 7.30pm).

Denis Hickie and Keith Gleeson are included for the first time this season having been involved in Ireland’s pre-season tour in Australia and New Zealand.

There are also places for fit-again prop Reggie Corrigan and development-lock forwards Devin Toner and Old Belvedere’s Richie Leyden. The team will be named tomorrow.

Speaking of the defeat to Edinburgh, Cheika admitted: “I was disappointed in that we didn’t take our opportunities to win the game. We kicked the ball way too much.

“But there were positives in areas that traditionally weren’t perceived as being our strengths. I thought we were very physical and they had a lot of ball that we stole well.

“We were aggressive in our rucking, counter-rucking and in defence, which was pleasing. There will be mistakes early on in any season and we’ll be looking to rectify them this week,” he said.

Former Munster player Stephen Keogh has had to endure some “slagging” from his ex-colleagues after his move to Leinster, but he has no regrets so far.

“I came to Leinster to try to establish myself in the team, to get first-team rugby on a more regular basis. It’s always emotional leaving an area where you grew up, but I have settled well in Dublin, and I’m looking forward to the season,” he said.

Meanwhile Connacht coach Michael Bradley has gone for an unchanged side as they bid to make it three wins on the trot in the Magners League against Llanelli on Friday night. Bradley has kept faith in the same 15 who defeated Ospreys 15-10 at the weekend.

There is one change on the bench with centre Darren Yapp ruled out with a thigh injury.

LEINSTER (from): Forwards (14): J Wickham, R Corrigan, W Green, R McCormack, B Jackman, H Vermaas, A Byrnes, O Finegan, D Toner, K Gleeson, R Leyden, J Heaslip, S Keogh, N Ronan

Backs (11): G Easterby, C Whitaker, F Contepomi, C Warner, G Brown, L Fitzgerald, D Hickie, R Kearney, R McCarron, M Berne, K Lewis.

CONNACHT (V OSPREYS): M Mostyn; K Matthews, P Warwick, G Williams, C McPhillips; M McHugh, C Keane; B Wilkinson, A Flavin, S Knoop; D Gannon, A Farley; J Muldoon, M Lacey, C Rigney.

Replacements: J Fogarty, M Diffley, M Swift, B O’Connor, T Tierney, J Hearty, D Riordan.