Big guns on comeback trail as Munster bid to slay Dragons

THE boys are back in town — or most of them anyway.

Paul O’Connell and his Lions team-mates Donncha O’Callaghan and Ronan O’Gara are included for the first time this season in a squad of 25 from which the Munster team to face the Newport Gwent Dragons at Musgrave Park on Sunday next will be finalised. There’s also a place for new signing — and one of the stars of South Africa’s Tri-Nations winning side — Jean De Villiers.

However, David Wallace is still being rested along with Doug Howlett while Niall Ronan, Jerry Flannery, Peter Stringer and Paul Warwick are on the injured list. It is testimony to the strength of the squad that even without six players of this calibre, Munster coach Tony McGahan will still be able to announce a formidable 22 when naming his team on Friday.