The season starts here as Munster and Ulster prepare for battle
Sheahan, recently back after a serious neck injury, has damaged a hamstring; his place goes to Andy Kyriacou, a temporary signing from Saracens.
Ulster coach Mark McCall is optimistic about his side’s chances of returning to Belfast with Magners League bragging rights.
But he warned: “Even though we have made a better start to the campaign, this is a huge task; it’s probably the first real game of the season for both of us, without disrespect to any of the teams we met to date.”
McCall also knows that this is the first time that Munster will be close to full strength this season. Ulster are also close to full strength for the first time.
But it won’t, McCall insisted, come down to individual battles: “I think it will come down to much more than that. This week is the start of the real preparation for the Heineken Cup; the two teams have access to all of their players, other than those who are injured, and that makes a difference.”
Ulster are coming off the back of a hugely promising victory over the Ospreys, while Munster, down the table after two defeats from three games, had a free weekend.
“It’s important for us to build on what we have achieved so far,” said McCall.
“I’m sure Munster want to pull themselves up the table, and the team facing us is well capable of that.”
McCall has made six changes to the starting line-up from the Ospreys clash last Friday.
Andrew Trimble and Tommy Bowe return to the backline, while Bryn Cunningham is out of the squad to make way for Mark Bartholomeusz, who starts at full-back.
Neil Best replaces Stephen Ferris, Matt McCullough is in for Tim Barker and Neil McMillan has been chosen ahead of Kieron Dawson.
MUNSTER: C. Cullen, A. Horgan, J. Kelly, S. Payne, I. Dowling, R. O’Gara, P. Stringer, M. Horan, A. Kyriacou, F. Pucciariello, D. O’Callaghan, P. O’Connell (captain), A. Quinlan, A. Foley, D. Wallace.
Replacements (from): F Roche, T. Ryan, M O’Driscoll, E Hickey, T O’Leary, T Halstead, T McGann, M Lawlor, B O’Meara, C O’Boyle.
ULSTER: M Bartholomeusz; T Bowe, P Steinmetz, P Wallace, A Trimble, D Humphreys, I Boss, J Fitzpatrick, R Best, B Young, J Harrison (Captain), M McCullough, N Best, R Wilson, N McMillan.
Replacements: P Shields, D Fitzpatrick, T Barker, S Ferris, K. Dawson, K. Campbell, K. Maggs.
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