Big guns back for Munster

The inclusion of Peter O’Mahony, Tommy O’Donnell, Donnacha Ryan, Simon Zebo, and Jaco Taute in the Munster 23 for today’s Guinness PRO12 clash with Zebre at Thomond Park has certainly ratcheted up fresh optimism among the Red Army immediately ahead of a crucially important part of the rugby season.

Even though counter attractions at Croke Park and Minnesota won’t do much to increase the paltry attendance at the venue for the Edinburgh fixture last week, it does look as if Rassie Erasmus and his staff are piecing together a frontline squad that should give a good account of itself today and in crucial encounters against Leinster, Racing, and Glasgow over the following three weeks.

Taute is a former Springbok whom Erasmus hopes will plug the gap left in the centre by the long-term injury to Francis Saili while O’Mahony is included in the replacements and will make his first appearance in a year some time during the proceedings.