Cheika gambles on youth but Munster roll out big guns again

MUNSTER and Leinster appear to have completely different priorities as they face into another round of Magners League action this weekend.

Michael Cheika clearly has taken a massive gamble by naming an understrength Leinster squad for the visit to Murrayfield tomorrow night (7.45pm), while Tony McGahan is as good as his word that Munster will go all out to succeed Leinster as champions of the Celtic competition. He has chosen all but one of his most experienced players in a 24-man squad for Saturday’s clash with Connacht at Thomond Park (7.30pm).

McGahan has given Donncha O’Callaghan a rare weekend off and added the names of Donncha Ryan, Michael Essex and Nick Williams to the mix. Clearly, McGahan is hoping to pick up a timely boost with wins over Connacht and then Llanelli in the build up to a Heineken Cup semi-final shoot-out with Leinster on May 2.