Earls back as Munster build for big games

Keith Earls is set to return from injury for Munster tomorrow for the RaboDirect Pro12 clash with Cardiff Blues as Rob Penney marshals his big guns for a crucial month ahead.

The Ireland and Lions back has been out since early December having suffered a groin problem in training ahead of the Heineken Cup round four game at Saracens and is one of 12 changes to the Munster team for tomorrow’s Musgrave Park game. Earls will start at outside centre in a midfield partnership with James Downey, who is one of just three players alongside Doug Howlett and Conor Murray to retain their places from the 24-10 home league win over Ulster last Saturday.

Penney’s back-row options have also been strengthened with the return of CJ Stander to the replacements bench after the South African broke a bone in his right hand in just his second appearance for Munster, a two-try starting debut against Glasgow on December 1. And Sean Dougall makes his first start at openside in his comeback from a knee injury suffered in the away game with Cardiff on November 2.

With season-defining Heineken Cup pool games at Edinburgh and at home to Racing Metro in the following weeks, Ronan O’Gara and Conor Murray are reunited at half-back, with the fly-half edging ahead of Peter Stringer as Munster’s most-capped player in what will be his 234th appearance.

Penney has reinstalled Felix Jones at full-back but Simon Zebo and Peter O’Mahony are rested as he shuffles his deck in an ongoing effort to prepare for two crucial games and ready the less-experienced players in his squad for the Six Nations window when the international contingent will be absent.

For those longer-reaching reasons, the New Zealander said his side to face the Welsh region would not necessarily be close to the starting XV which will meet Edinburgh eight days later.

“I’ve got a more broadbrush stroke to the selection policy,” Penney said. “I think we can grow people without compromising either team and that’s what we’re trying, endeavouring to do through this whole window, given that we get through the two Heinekens and whatever happens there, happens there. Then we lose all our internationals and it would be difficult if all our guys filling in for that Rabo block, post-Heineken, if they hadn’t had any post-Christmas footy. That’s a big ask, so there are a lot of things floating around in my head. And I’m new to this too, managing through this series and programme and I’m asking a lot of questions and getting a lot of information. I still think there’s an opportunity to grow people and achieve what you need to achieve.”

Having Earls back in harness, however, is right on schedule to prepare him for back-to-back European ties in which Munster need maximum points if they are to progress to the knockout stages.

“He looks good,” Penney said of Earls. “It looks like he’s come through the (Ireland training) camp last week and on the back of the camp last week it was decided we wouldn’t consider him for last week’s game, because of his history. But he’s come through this week really well and looks excited and ready to go, which is great.”

MUNSTER (v Cardiff Blues): F Jones; D Howlett — captain, K Earls, J Downey, J Murphy; R O’Gara, C Murray; D Kilcoyne, M Sherry, S Archer; D Foley, D Ryan; T O’Donnell, S Dougall, J Coughlan. Replacements: S Henry, W du Preez, BJ Botha, B Holland, CJ Stander, D Williams, I Keatley, C Laulala.