O’Driscoll takes over captaincy for Cardiff encounter

MICK O’DRISCOLL will lead his weary Munster troops into their Magners League battle against Cardiff Blues in the Arms Park tomorrow (4.35pm) after Paul O’Connell withdrew from the squad with a minor thigh injury.

O’Connell sat out training in Limerick yesterday, after which it was decided to omit him for the trip to Wales.

But the newly appointed Lions captain looks certain to lead Munster out in the final game of the season, at home to Ospreys on Friday.

Manager Shaun Payne explained: “It is nothing serious; Paul has a busy summer ahead, and we felt it just wasn’t in his best interests to play this weekend. However we are confident he will be involved next week.”

Munster include 13 of those involved in the Heineken Cup loss to Leinster at Croke Park, for a game that this time last week was seen as a potential dry run for the Heineken Cup final.

Brian Carney is added to the starting team for the first time in months, Jeremy Manning gets a rare outing when he partners Peter Stringer, Nick Williams takes over in the back row from Alan Quinlan, while Niall Ronan starts for David Wallace.

Lifeimi Mafi is another front-liner to be rested, as Tony McGahan pairs Barry Murphy and Keith Earls in the centre. Up front Freddie Pucciariello will probably make his last start for Munster, although he could feature again on Friday before departing the Munster squad.

It is possible that McGahan will give two Academy players – David Foley (second row) and Conor Murray (scrum half) some game time tomorrow. Both have been named on the replacements bench.

Cardiff coach Dai Young might, in different circumstances, have been playing mind games in advance of the Heineken Cup final appearance both teams aspired to – Cardiff lost their semi to Leicester Tigers – but instead he heaped praise on McGahan’s Munster.

At least, the deposed European champions have secured some silverware to console themselves after last week’s exit; the Blues have nothing to show for an innovative season.

Young said: “I would like to offer my congratulations to Munster on winning the Magners League. The manner in which they won it this season shows that they are a quality outfit and that they have strength throughout their squad.

“We have seen their quality in the Heineken Cup over recent seasons, and it is no surprise that they performed so well. We have something in common right now, plenty of players selected for the Lions tour to South Africa, while at the same time being left to lick our respective wounds after last week.

“It’s something we must both come to terms with; we have to move on, and we will because rugby demands you must do that.”