Reds’ shot at redemption after Dublin capitulation

THE majority of the Munster team that under-performed so disappointingly against Leinster last week have an opportunity to redeem themselves in this evening’s Heineken Cup opener against Northampton Saints at Franklin’s Gardens.

Coach Tony McGahan may have been tempted to throw caution to the winds after the feeble display at the RDS but has decided to stick with the tried and trusted. The Aussie has found room to accommodate all his big names with Keith Earls moving to the left wing to make way for the return of Paul Warwick at full-back and is sticking with the Jean De Villiers-Lifeimi Mafi axis in midfield. Tony Buckley replaces the suspended John Hayes at tight head prop and with Alan Quinlan and David Wallace returning in the back-row, Niall Ronan is on the bench.

He is joined there by five other forwards, including props Julien Brugnaut and Darragh Hurley with new European Cup rule requiring six front-rows to be named in each panel of 23. McGahan has named only two backs, Peter Stringer and Ian Dowling, among the eight replacements.