Recalled Hayes can stake Toulon claim

JOHN HAYES will get a chance to stake his claim to the tighthead berth for Munster’s European date with destiny next weekend after a call-up for the province’s Magners League game with Glasgow Warriors in Cork tonight (7.30pm).

The front row has been the major headache for Munster in recent weeks, most tellingly in the pre-Christmas Heineken Cup defeat at Ospreys which has turned next Sunday’s round five trip to Pool Three leaders Toulon into a must-win encounter.

In head coach Tony McGahan’s own words, last week’s victory over Ulster was a step forward on prior displays but there were still areas of Munster’s play that need further improvement, not least in the scrummaging department.