O’Connell primed for battle

Difficult as it was for Paul O’Connell to sit out the final two matches in Ireland’s Six Nations campaign, there was never any danger he would miss Munster’s season defining Heineken Cup quarter-final against Ulster at Thomond Park on Sunday.

The great second-row came through yesterday’s training session at the same venue without any reaction to his knee injury and is now set to lead his side in what he expects to be a ferociously difficult encounter.

Coach Tony McGahan believes the four week lay-off will actually be of benefit and his captain agrees.