Scarlets fire ‘double’ warning

TOP Munster players, captain Paul O’Connell, Peter Stringer, David Wallace, Shaun Payne and Alan Quinlan are all ruled out of Saturday’s Magner’s League clash with Llanelli at Musgrave Park (7.30).

But coach Declan Kidney still has a pretty strong squad, with Ronan O’Gara, John Hayes, Jerry Flannery, Mick O’Driscoll, John Kelly and Trevor Halstead all available as Munster strive to gain small consolation for the recent Heineken Cup defeat.

Meanwhile, Eoghan Hickey is moving on after playing with the province for a year. He has signed a two year contract with London Irish.

However, the good news is that Tony Buckley has, after all, turned his back on a contract with Bath to stay in Ireland for another two years. Buckley was tempted back by the Munster negotiators following strong rumours he was on the verge of signing a 12 month contract with Bath.

The Scarlets come to Munster with a mission. Visiting captain Simon Easterby has urged his troops not to give up hope of claiming an unprecedented Magners League and Heineken Cup double this season.

Many are already tipping the Scarlets to go all the way in Europe, but the popular Irishman doesn’t believe the Magners League title is yet beyond them.

The Scarlets are fourth in the table, 12 points adrift of leaders Leinster with a game in hand. With only six games remaining it appears a big ask for the 2004 champions. But with five of those matches at Stradey, Easterby is by no means giving up hope.

“Until it is mathematically impossible you have got to go all out for it,” said the Ireland flanker.

“Obviously we have a tricky trip to Munster, but we believe we have the ability and the focus to maintain our challenge.”

Flanker Mike McCarthy has become the latest player to leave the Guinness Premiership and return to Connacht. The 25 year follows in the footsteps of Gavin Duffy, Johnny O’Connor and Mel Deane, all of whom will be at the Sports Ground next season after several years in England.

McCarthy, English-born but Irish qualified through Mayo family connections, made 22 appearances for Connacht during the 2003-04 campaign when Steph Nel was in charge.

He joined Connacht from Wasps on the recommendation of Warren Gatland but his excellent form saw him snapped up by Newcastle Falcons.

He has made 73 appearances for the Falcons — including last year’s European Challenge Cup quarter-final win over Connacht — and has scored eleven tries for Newcastle.

McCarthy, who can also play second row, will beef up what is set to be Connacht’s most experienced squad since the advent of professionalism.

“I’m well aware its going to be a tough job to win a place on the team but I’m looking forward to next season and am relishing the challenge.

“I had a great year there before and I really enjoyed it. I think Galway’s a great place and they’re a great bunch of lads.

“I know Michael Bradley is a very hands-on coach and obviously Dan McFarland and Eric Elwood were players there when I was there and I’m very much looking forward to working with them once again,” said McCarthy, who has signed a two-year deal.

Michael Bradley has named a 23 man squad ahead of Connacht’s final home match of the season, against Glasgow Warriors at the Sports Ground to-night (6.30pm).

Both Connacht players who were involved in the Ireland U20 grand- slam winning side, Andrew Browne and Aidan Wynne, are once again included in the squad.

MUNSTER SQUAD (v Llanelli Scarlets): C Cullen, D Hurley, M Lawlor, J Kelly, A Horgan, T Halstead, B Murphy, L Mafi, B Carney, I Dowling, T O’Leary, B O’Meara, R O’Gara, J Manning. M Horan, F Pucciariello, T Buckley, J Hayes, F Sheahan, J Flannery, D O’Callaghan, M O’Driscoll, C Wyatt, D Ryan, A Foley, J O’Sullivan, J Coughlan, D Leamy, Llanelli Scarlets: B. Davies, D. James, M. Watkins. G. Evans, M. Jones, S. Jones, D. Peel, P. John, M. Rees, J. Davies, a. Jones, s. McLeod, S. Easterby (captain), D. Jones, J. Bater.

Replacements. D. Mann, K. Owens, I. Afeaki, A. Popham, L. Davies, C. Thomas, R. King.

CONNACHT SQUAD (v Glasgow Warriors): A Browne, G Duffy, P Durcan, A Farley, A Flavin, J Fogarty, J Hearty, R Hogan, C Keane, M Lacey, C McPhillips, J Muldoon, R Ofisa, C Rigney, D Riordan, D Slemen, R Strudwick, B Sturgess, M Swift, P Warwick, B Wilkinson, A Wynne, D Yapp.