Just three survive as Munster reshuffle
Denis Leamy misses the chance to face his old friend Rory Best after aggravating and old injury (hip) in training.
He was named with Sean Scanlon (shoulder) in the extended squad announced for this game but withdrew from training in Cork on Wednesday. Like Scanlon the injuries will be reassessed early next week but at this stage neither are ruled out of contention with the Benetton Treviso game in mind.
Declan Cusack is another who has a shoulder injury keeping him sidelined bringing the number of walking wounded to 11.
Meanwhile, former Munster hooker Andi Kyriacou says that Ulster dare not slip up against his former side if they are to have any more interest in the RaboDirect Pro12.
The Liverpudlian starts his first game in four weeks in a shake-up of the Ulster side which sees 15 changes from the young side that went down 42-13 to Leinster on Monday.
With Munster also without their Ireland contingent, and like Ulster, a long injury list, it will be interesting to see just how much strength in depth each province has.
But Kyriacou hopes Ulster will show the same sort of grit and determination that the youngsters showed in making Leinster work hard for their victory earlier in the week.
“We were all so proud of the young lads in the way they stood their ground in Dublin,” said Kyriacou, who was on loan to Munster four years ago.
“Everyone was talking about their effort in training and it kind off gave us inspiration.
“They made international players work throughout the game and I think Leinster will take a long look at the video and think ‘that was a real tough game’.
“We have to mimic that effort tonight. We are now in ninth spot in the league so there is no margin for error, particularly against a side like Munster.
“There will be massive pressure on us and a full house will be baying for the win. So we have to go out and deliver if we want to continue our league aspirations.
“If we miss out, it will be entirely our fault, not the coaches, but us the players. Brian McLaughlin and skipper Johann Muller have been talking about aspects of the game and how it is up to us to shoulder the responsibility.”
Ulster’s lineout will be tested again by Munster’s jumpers and Kyriacou hopes that it will be a good night at the office.
“Lineout work is sometimes like a golfer. You could shoot a 64 one day and next day have a real nightmare. These kind of things happen.
“Sometimes it’s the throw, it could be the lift or the jump, or indeed the defensive jumpers have it all sussed.
“All those things can pop up and cause a bad day.
“But we have worked extremely hard this week to make sure everything goes to plan. It is one of our main platforms so we will keep our fingers crossed.”
Ulster have included their full South African contingent in their starting line-up with Ruan Pienaar as Ian Humphreys’ half-back partner and short-term signing Stefan Terblanche getting his first start in place of Andrew Trimble on the wing.
Pedrie Wannenberg is at blindside in the absence of Stephen Ferris with Willie Faloon at openside and Chris Henry at number eight.
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