McGahan makes the big calls

GOOD enough for the Springboks when they beat the Lions and ran away with the Tri-Nations… now not good enough for Munster.

That’s how the South African centre Jean de Villiers finds himself today having been relegated to the replacement bench for tonight’s vital Heineken Cup clash with Perpignan at Thomond Park. It’s a huge call by coach Tony McGahan and most will wonder why he felt it necessary to make it now. On the other hand, he can hardly be accused of gambling given that reverting Keith Earls from the wing to centre as partner for Lifeimi Mafi is hardly a case of risk taking. Nor will many eyebrows be raised at the preference for Denis Hurley over Ian Dowling on the left wing.

There’s a certain degree of merit in both selections. And in the long run, the enforced absence of hooker Jerry Flannery with an achilles problem could exercise a greater influence in the outcome of what appears to be a really tight game.