Back to business as O’Leary and Flannery in Munster squad

GRAND Slam winners, Tomás O’Leary and Jerry Flannery, who both started for Ireland in last weekend’s Six Nations decider in Cardiff, are included in an extended Munster squad for tomorrow’s Magners League clash with Glasgow Warriors at Firhill (7:45pm).

Two more Grand Slam medal holders — Peter Stringer, a replacement for O’Leary in the 69th minute of the Millennium Stadium clash and Mick O’Driscoll, an unused replacement — are also named amongst a strong 26-man Munster contingent for the trip to Scotland.

It was thought that those who started the Six Nations decider would earn an extended rest, but the inclusion of some of his international front-liners indicate head coach Tony McGahan’s determination to garner a victory.

Munster’s remaining internationals — Marcus Horan, John Hayes, Donncha O’Callaghan, Paul O’Connell, Denis Leamy and Ronan O’Gara — are given the night off but all are expected to feature in Saturday week’s glamour Magners League showdown against Leinster in Thomond Park.

A Munster spokesman said last night there is no reason why some members of the Grand Slam squad are included and others are not: “The bench replacements were always going to be in contention, but, overall, it was down to the amount of time that they got on the field, not the last day against Wales but over the course of the Six Nations. Jerry and Tomás, for example, didn’t start against Scotland. It’s a question of getting the best out of them as Munster face into a testing few weeks.”

He added: “There are no injury worries amongst the returning Ireland contingent either. All came through the Championship without any injury which is unique.”

Ian Dowling, who suffered a severe hamstring tear in an Ireland squad session in February and was facing a race against time to be fit for the Ospreys clash on April 12, trained with Munster in Limerick yesterday and is included in the squad.

The two-time Heineken Cup winger could make a return to the starting XV or may feature off the bench, while Barry Murphy, who was carrying a shoulder injury, is also named in the squad.

However Rua Tipoki didn’t train yesterday. The Kiwi’s hamstring injury is taking its time to heal, but Munster management are hopeful Tipoki can make a return for the Leinster clash .

Munster have lost to the Warriors just once in their last four meetings, and will eye this Round 13 league match as an opportunity to maintain their lead at the top of the table.

However, the Warriors are unbeaten against all Irish opponents at Firhill since May 2006, a statistic that will ensure McGahan fields his strongest available team this afternoon.

MUNSTER (squad v Glasgow): (backs) Denis Hurley, B Murphy, K Lewis, K Earls, I Dowling, A Horgan, L Mafi, D Howlett, P Warwick, J Manning, P Stringer, T O’Leary.

Forwards: F Pucciariello, T Buckley, Daragh Hurley, T Ryan, D Fogarty, J Flannery, M O’Driscoll, D Ryan, B Holland, A Quinlan, T O’Donnell, N Ronan, J Coughlan, N Williams.