Leamy leads Munster into battle

DENIS LEAMY has had his status as stand-in skipper to the injured Paul O’Connell confirmed with the announcement that he is to lead Munster into Magners League battle against Aironi at Musgrave Park tomorrow (7.30pm).

Leamy led Munster in each of their pre-season friendly matches but now takes his role a stage further as Munster embark on what they regard as a tough assignment against tournament rookies Aironi.

The newly-formed Italian outfit have secured the services of a plethora of international class players, particularly abrasive forwards, for their first season in European competition, and Munster coach Tony McGahan figures the pre-season performances deserve reward for many players, including Leamy.

McGahan starts Mick O’Driscoll alongside Billy Holland in the second row, moves Donncha Ryan to the back row and that means Alan Quinlan is pushed on to the bench, where he will sit alongside seasoned internationals Marcus Horan and John Hayes.

Munster’s strong scrum performance against Gloucester last week, despite the fact that Horan and Hayes are available for the first time, has prompted McGahan to name an unchanged front row trio of Wian du Preez, Damien Varley and Tony Buckley.

They will face an Aironi front row that sees loosehead prop Alberto De Marchi come in alongside Italian internationals Fabio Ongaro and Salvatore Perugini. Carlo Del Fava and Aironi’s skipper Quintin Geldenhuys form the second row while in the back row Jaco Erasmus and Gareth Krause flank former Munster No. 8 Nick Williams.

Tito Tebaldi and Ludovic Mercier start at half back, with the French fly-half recovered from an ankle injury suffered in Northampton in pre-season last Friday. Des Fountain and Roberto Quartaroli play at centre while French international Julien Laharrague plays at full-back with Giulio Rubini and Giulio Toniolatti on the wings.