Earls returns but Warwick and Quinlan dropped

KEITH EARLS’ return to Munster colours for the first time since May could give just the boost required by the Irish province to kick off the new Heineken Cup campaign with a victory at London Irish today (5.45pm).

By their own admission, Munster have not hit top gear this season and succumbed to their first defeat last Saturday with a 13-9 Magners League loss away to Leinster.

The consequences were further reaching when Lifeimi Mafi was cited for a dangerous tackle on Gordon D’Arcy and handed a seven-week ban that starts with this evening’s Madejski Stadium encounter in Reading.