Rejuvenated Buckley ‘ready to go’ for Munster

TONY BUCKLEY re-launches his representative career in Munster’s Magners League clash with Edinburgh at Musgrave Park tonight (7.30pm). Buckley hasn’t played for the province since the defeat by Connacht at the Sportsground at the end of December, illness ruling him out of the games against Ulster, Ospreys, Sale and Montauban.

That lay-off severely damaged his prospects of breaking into Declan Kidney’s RBS Six Nations squad, having been involved with the national side in the autumn series of internationals. But, as coach Tony McGahan welcomes back Mick O’Driscoll, Denis Leamy, Alan Quinlan, Keith Earls and Peter Stringer in the continued absence of Rua Tipoki, Buckley is said to be “ready to go” by team manager Shaun Payne.

“Tony was disappointed to have missed out for so long, one illness after another, a virus that dragged on for a long time and dragged him down. But he has been training well and bursting to get out there for some quality game time,” said Payne.

Tipoki wasn’t so lucky this week and, following medical consultation, his return to competitive action has been put on hold for a further fortnight until Munster take on Newport Gwent Dragons. Payne revealed Tipoki might have played but wasn’t quite ready, something around 95% fit, according to the manager. “We just didn’t want to risk it, given the nature of the injury (knee ligaments); he is such a central figure to so many of the good things this side does. It was a calculated decision to keep him over for the next match,” said Payne.

There is, however, a welcome return for Keith Earls, who will be closely monitored by the Irish team management, while Kiwi back row forward Nick Williams has been named at number eight, having been used of late by his assigned club Dolphin in the AIB League.

Payne said Williams had recovered from his shoulder injury. “He has been training well, but we didn’t have much opportunity to see him in action. This is a good opportunity now to see him play against such good quality opposition as Edinburgh.”

Ciarán O’Boyle makes his first start of the season on the wing and, after his two most recent outings from the bench in the absence of David Wallace, Niall Ronan occupies the open side flanker berth. There is a youthful look to the Munster replacements bench, with Michael Essex, Billy Holland, Darragh Hurley and Jeremy Manning all set to play a role as the leaders look to stay top.

Payne expects it to be a tough evening against the Scottish side. “There has been nothing much between us in recent games,” he said, referring to Munster’s successive 19-16, 11-7 and 20-15 victories since November 2007.

Payne was able to recall the 10-21 loss to Edinburgh at Thomond Park back in 2006 as he sounded a note of warning. “They’re a very competitive side, as shown by the position they hold in the table. Fine, we’re on top but there is only a gap of five points between us and Edinburgh, who are in fifth place.

“All of the positions could turn, depending on what happens this weekend. I’d say all the pressure is on us because it really is imperative to win home matches in a competition that is being so vigorously contested,” he said.

Payne hopes Munster will reap the benefit of a week of warm-weather training in Lanzarote. “Prior to that, it was a pretty disruptive spell because the internationals were away and there were U-20, Ireland A and sevens fixtures, so it was felt best to take the remaining guys away to one spot. It was a good exercise and everyone was happy with the amount of work they got through.”