Munster call O’Gara for Connacht clash

RONAN O’GARA is the only one of Munster’s senior internationals included in the squad of 27 announced yesterday ahead of Saturday’s Magners League game against Connacht at Thomond Park (7.30pm).

All the others, skipper Paul O’Connell, Donncha O’Callaghan (who marries Jennifer Harte in Cork today), David Wallace, Denis Leamy, John Hayes, Tomás O’Leary and Keith Earls, are rested, while Jerry Flannery and Marcus Horan are among those unavailable because of injury/illness.

However, the good news is both men are expected to be available for the Heineken Cup game against Treviso in mid-January. Horan, has resumed full training and is making rapid progress towards full fitness.

Although Connacht are propping up the Magners League, they have enjoyed some great results of late, most notably their back-to-back wins over Worcester in the Amlin Challenge Cup. They will also take considerable confidence from their victory over Munster in the corresponding game at the Sportsground 12 months ago.

Munster manager Shaun Payne accepts Connacht will provide a major challenge on Saturday, even at a venue where they haven’t won since 1986.

They mightn’t like it but Munster had little option but to ring the changes: “As agreed with national management, there’s a group of senior international players who are allowed to play only six matches out of eight,” Payne explained.

“This is one of those earmarked as the ‘active rest week’. That leaves only two Magners League games that they are able to play in.

“Rog hasn’t had the same workload as some of the others so he will be looking to keep going a little longer. He’s playing really well and I thought he was outstanding at the weekend. So we’ll keep him going for another few weeks as he needs the game time.”

Regarding Marcus Horan, Payne stated: “He is doing remarkably well and we’re very pleased with his progress. There’s every possibility he’ll be available for the next rounds of the (Heineken Cup), but we don’t want to push anything. He’s back in full training and we’ll see how he deals with that. He had a serious condition and we’re not going to push anything unduly. We’re hoping Marcus and Jerry Flannery will be okay for Treviso.”

The absence of the internationals gives the fringe players a chance to show what they can do. Shaun Payne is especially looking forward to giving players like Felix Jones and Ian Dowling, to name but two, the chance to show their paces after recent inactivity.

“Ian Dowling and Felix are just two of those bursting for a game and it’s a massive opportunity to lay down a marker. We’re very lucky to have lots of quality in the squad.”

Springbok Jean de Villiers will also be in the starting line-up on Saturday after making a massive contribution coming off the bench in Perpignan. “We’ve seen Jean in a Springbok jersey and the silverware he’s won and know what he’s capable of,” said Payne.

MUNSTER (squad of 27) Forwards: Darragh Hurley, W. du Preez, J. Brugnaut, D. Fogarty, D. Varley, M. Sherry, T. Buckley, M. O’Driscoll, D. Ryan, A. Quinlan, B. Holland, N. Ronan, N. Williams, J. Coughlan, T. O’Donnell.

Backs: P. Stringer, D. Williams, R. O’Gara, P. Warwick, J. de Villiers, L. Mafi, T. Gleeson, I. Dowling, D. Howlett, F. Jones, Denis Hurley, S. Deasy.