O’Connell back for Munster

HE has been compared to Superman in the past, but Paul O’Connell must certainly possess extraordinary powers of recovery as well.

O’Connell, who began light jogging last month after suffering a back injury in October, has taken a giant step towards a starting slot against Clermont Auvergne on Sunday week after being included in the replacements for tonight’s Magners League tie against Ulster at Ravenhill (7:30pm).

Coach Declan Kidney’s penchant for mind-games inside the Munster camp is well documented but the Cork man pulled off a master stroke in deflecting attention away from the imminent return of his captain before the official unveiling of star-signing, Doug Howlett, at Charleville golf club on Wednesday. The focus outside of Howlett’s arrival was very much on Alan Quinlan’s quicker than expected recovery from ligament damage.