McGahan set for Thomond farewell

Fears that an injury to Keith Earls would be another long-term problem for Munster and Ireland were eased yesterday when he was given a place on the bench for his province at Thomond Park tonight.

His availability for an important RaboDirect Pro12 clash is surely of big relief to under-pressure outgoing coach Tony McGahan, who could well be overseeing his last game on a ground he enjoyed mixed results on.

McGahan makes two changes, one of them positional, from the side that started their last Rabo match against Scarlets. His only hope of appearing with Munster again in Limerick requires a win tonight to finish third, to beat second-placed Ospreys in a semi-final and for the fourth-placed side, probably Glasgow, to beat Leinster in the other side of the draw.