McGahan reveals game-time plan

IN what is Munster’s first home game since winning the Heineken Cup in May, Tony McGahan has kept faith with 11 of the side that started in last weekend’s impressive 46-22 win over the USA Eagles for tonight’s sell-out friendly with London Irish at Musgrave Park (7.30pm).

But, according to the new Munster head coach, his frontline international contingent will see game-time against the Exiles and are named on a strong replacements bench that also includes new signing Justin Melck.

Alan Quinlan, however, is out with a slight groin injury.

“It would be our intention to give those who didn’t get any game-time against the Eagles a run at some stage of the game as we go about integrating them back into the playing side of things in preparation for the opening Magners League game,” said McGahan. “It’s early stages of the season and we need to get guys on the park, integrate them with the guys who have already had a run as much as we can.”

The most interesting selection is the placement of All Black legend Doug Howlett at fullback, a position the 29-year-old try-machine filled on occasion with the All Blacks, Auckland Rugby and the Blues during a stellar career in New Zealand.

Howlett will be expected to hit the line, thus giving the three–quarters an even more potent attacking edge. But, as evidenced in Connecticut last weekend, McGahan’s backline options are on the increase with the likes of Keith Earls and Barry Murphy putting down markers against the Eagles.

While Murphy again starts on the bench, Ireland A star Earls is afforded another opportunity to showcase his considerable talents from outside centre, while Tomas O’Leary starts at scrum-half alongside Paul Warwick.

McGahan retains the industrious back row unit of Billy Holland, Neil Ronan and John O’Sullivan, a trio who’ll be vying for Denis Leamy’s position as the Tipperary man misses the first two months of the new season through injury.

Munster played with real width and verve against the Eagles, running in six tries in a display that gave an insight into McGahan’s philosophy of the game. As a defensive coach, he won’t be happy with how his side conceded two tries against the Eagles, but he will be pleased with the team’s attitude and application in trying conditions.

Still, Munster are expecting a more thorough examination from a near full-strength London Irish side, led by Ireland international Bob Casey. The Exiles are bringing a 25-man squad to Leeside, 14 of whom played against Toulouse in the Heineken Cup semi-final last April. Mike Catt, 36 — a 2003 World Cup winner — is picked at out-half with one of the Guinness Premiership’s best performers last season, Aussie Peter Hewatt, at fullback.

The Exiles will have plenty of pace among the three-quarters and the sell-out crowd are sure to be entertained by the fleet-footed movements of Topsy Ojo and Sailosi Tagicakibau.

* The Munster Branch have confirmed there are no more tickets available and no cash turnstiles will be in operation for the Reds’ second and final pre-season friendly before their first Magners League game against Edinburgh in seven days’ time. The teams will play tonight for the Jack Wakefield Memorial Trophy.

MUNSTER: D Howlett; A Horgan, K Earls, L Mafi, I Dowling; P Warwick, T O’Leary; F Pucciariello, F Sheahan, T Buckley; M O’Driscoll (capt), D Ryan; B Holland, N Ronan, J O’Sullivan.

Replacements (from): J Flannery, J Hayes, M Horan, D O’Callaghan, P O’Connell, D Wallace, P Stringer, R O’Gara, R Tipoki, B Murphy, J Melck.

LONDON IRISH: P Hewat; T Ojo, D Armitage, S Mapusua, S Tagicakibau; M Catt, P Hodgson; A Corbiriero, D Paice, F Rautenbach; N Kennedy, B Casey (capt); J Fisher, R Thorpe, C Hala’Ufia.

Replacements (from): J Buckland, S Geraghty, C Gower, J Hudson, G Johnson, D Murphy, T Parker, P Richards, D Shabbo, R Skuse and A Thompstone.