Leamy’s return major Munster boost

DESPITE missing out on the core of his usual pack and both half-backs, Munster coach Tony McGahan has chosen a very useful side to tackle the All Blacks at Thomond Park tonight.

The team, captained by Mick O’Driscoll, contains at least five of the customary back division and, crucially, is considerably strengthened by the return to the back-row of long-term injury victim Denis Leamy.

Unfortunately, a knee injury rules out Denis Hurley. Doug Howlett switches to full-back, Barry Murphy is named on the right wing and Paul Warwick reverts to out-half.

“We knew in advance that players would be missing for this game”, said McGahan. “But we’ve still got Micko, Peter Stringer, Denis Leamy and Donncha Ryan so we have a very nice blend of some experienced guys, a few young guys and a few middle players. We think we have come up with a very good team”.

One of the strange aspects of the squad is that Tony Buckley has been released for the game by Ireland coach Declan Kidney but starts the game on the bench. Instead, the number three jersey is handed to Timmy Ryan, the 24 year-old, 6 ft 2 inch, 18 stone 1lb Cork Constitution prop whose rugby heretofore has been almost entirely confined to the AIL.

McGahan said: “We were lucky to get Tony back and one of the requirements there was that he got as much game time as possible without playing 80 minutes and that’s why he’s a sub.”

He added: “Timmy Ryan is on a development contract, he’s had three years in the academy and is a young player coming through whom we believe can develop into a full-time professional. It’s certainly the biggest game in which he has ever been involved and it must be beyond his wildest dreams that he’d be running out at Thomond Park against the All Blacks 30 years almost to the day after the 1978 game. Denis Leamy has been training for the past five or six weeks. He’s had three intensive weeks with Ireland, he’s had 40 and 55 minutes in games for Cork Con so from a training perspective, he’s on the right track. For match fitness, he’s not where we would want him to be but he’s available and we’d be crazy not to use him”.

McGahan revealed his chosen side had just one run together on Sunday and another 20 minutes last evening so he was prepared to admit that they “have had limited preparation as a group and we have to take on the nucleus of a team that beat Scotland 32-6. You will always be looking to your senior players. Doug Howlett with his experience as a New Zealand international and Super 14 player for a long period of time and Rua Tipoki has also played a lot of rugby in New Zealand and those two guys will have a very good handle on their psyche, their mental approach and how they would be approaching this game.”

Munster left winger Ian Dowling expressed the hope that the occasion will inspire the team to reach new levels.

“We’re going to give it our all for 80 minutes and we’re relishing the opportunity to receive the jersey from the 1978 team at lunchtime and pull it on later in the day”.