Munster make light of big-name absentees

EVEN though Ronan O’Gara, Tomás O’Leary and Keith Earls are all rested under the IRFU edict regarding senior international players, Munster have chosen a back division of remarkable experience and talent for tomorrow evening’s sell-out Magners League clash with Ulster at Ravenhill.

Multi-capped New Zealander Doug Howlett and South African Jean de Villiers are included in the three-quarter line, along with another Kiwi, Lifeimi Mafi, and two-time Heineken Cup winner Ian Dowling.

Paul Warwick, the Australian who has been enjoyed a rich vein of form all season, partners another international of long standing, Peter Stringer, at half-back, while Denis Hurley reverts from wing to full-back, a berth he has filled for most of his career.

Even though John Hayes, Donncha O’Callaghan, Paul O’Connell, David Wallace and Alan Quinlan – along with the injured Jerry Flannery and Denis Leamy – are all absentees, there is also a familiar and indeed formidable appearance to the forward pack.

South African Wian du Preez returns at loose head prop for the injured Frenchman Julien Brugnaut, while James Coughlan replaces his Dolphin club mate Nick Williams in the back-row. Williams sustained a knee injury while training on Tuesday.

Coach Tony McGahan makes six changes, two positional, from the side that beat Connacht 35-3 at Thomond Park last Saturday.

Two are enforced by the injuries to Felix Jones and Nick Williams. The good news, however, is that Jones, who sustained neck ligament damage after an accidental clash of heads with Connacht flanker Johnny O’Connor last week, was discharged from Cork University Hospital (CUH) yesterday.

It is still not known when he will be able to resume an active career, but he is assured of making a full recovery.

Coach Tony McGahan has packed his replacement bench with members of the team’s development/academy squads. Even here, though, there is a massive amount of talent with each of the seven having been capped for Ireland at under-age level.

Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin announces his team at noon today. It will include his front-line international players like Stephen Ferris, Paddy Wallace, Andrew Trimble and Tom Court.

Although the weather forecast for the north-east is not the most favourable, yesterday was dry and bright in Belfast and with the Ravenhill pitch having been covered to protect against frost, the game is likely to go ahead.

Connacht have also covered the surface at the Sportsground in Galway to ensure that tomorrow’s Magners League game against Leinster is not affected.

Connacht chief executive Gerry Kelly said that they had taken the precaution as heavy frost is forecast for the west of Ireland over the coming days.

“There is huge interest in this game and we anticipate a big crowd so hopefully the measures we have taken will ensure the game goes ahead,” he said.

Connacht will name their side this morning, with skipper John Muldoon and hooker Sean Cronin returning to the side after being rested according to the international stipulations laid down by the IRFU.

MUNSTER: D Hurley; D Howlett, L Mafi, J de Villiers, I Dowling; P Warwick, P Stringer; W du Preez, D Varley,T Buckley, M O'Driscoll, D Ryan, B Holland, N Ronan, J Coughlan.

Replacements: M Sherry, S Archer, P O'Mahony, T O'Donnell, D Williams, S Deasy, T Gleeson.