International players back in training for Munster

Munster coach Declan Kidney will understand how Leinster's Michael Cheika feels ahead of the Magners League visit of Ulster to Musgrave Park on Friday.

Munster were boosted by the return to training of six Ireland internationals Marcus Horan, Donncha O'Callaghan, Paul O'Connell, David Wallace, Ronan O'Gara and Peter Stringer.

It has prompted Kidney to delay naming his side until he assesses how the senior players re-integrate into the squad.

Meanwhile, Munster and Ulster have named their A squads to play each other at Musgrave Park on Thursday afternoon (1.30pm).

MUNSTER 'A' SQUAD (v Ulster 'A'):

F Roche, T Buckley, T Ryan, A Kyriacou, M Essex, S O'Connor, D Ryan, M Melborne, J O'Sullivan, B Cuttriss, J Coughlan, B Holland, G Hurley, B O'Meara, E Hickey, C O'Boyle, T Taipei,, T Gleeson, P Owens, D Hurley, M Lawlor, I Hanley.

ULSTER 'A': Mark Kettyle; Paul McKenzie, Scott Young, Stuart Megaw, Michael Pehi; Adam Larkin (Capt), Paul Marshall; Niall Conlon, Nigel Brady, Tom Court, David Houston, Lewis Stevenson, Thomas Anderson, Chris Henry, Chris McCarey.

Replacements: Jacques-Michael Steenkamp, Stuart Philpott, Neil Simpson, Mark Wilson; David Drake, Niall O`Connor, Jamie Smith.