McGahan keeps the faith

Munster coach Tony McGahan has decided to leave in place the same 15 that edged Perpignan last week for the Heineken Cup trip to the same club at Stade Aime Giral on Sunday.

This means South Africa’s Jean de Villiers remains on the bench as he searches for the kind of form that has made him one of the most highly-rated centres in the world.

Captain Paul O’Connell will have to manage the lineout without his sidekick Jerry Flannery. Hooker Denis Fogarty will have to be on the money out of touch to give Munster the basis for a mild surprise.

MUNSTER (v Perpignan): P Warwick; D Howlett, K Earls, L Mafi, D Hurley; R O'Gara, T O'Leary; W du Preez, D Fogarty, J Hayes; D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell capt; A Quinlan, D Wallace, D Leamy.

REPLACEMENTS: D Varley, D Hurley, T Buckley, M O'Driscoll, D Ryan, N Ronan, P Stringer, J de Villiers.