O’Callaghan returns for Edinburgh clash

As expected, a fit again Donncha O'Callaghan has been named in the Munster line-up for the Heineken Cup clash with Edinburgh at Thomond Park Stadium on Sunday (12.45).

O’Callaghan will rekindle his well-established partnership with Paul O'Connell in the second row while Mick Sherry starts on this occasion ahead of Damien Varley in the only changes up front.

Donnacha Ryan is again deployed as a back row option where he will keep company with Sean Dougall and Peter O’Mahony.

The injury to Ronan O'Gara (hamstring) means the predictable first start at 10 for Ian Keatley with Denis Hurley back into the full-back berth that Keatley occupied at the start of the Racing Metro game last weekend.

Head Coach Rob Penney refuses to be influenced by the 0-45 defeat Edinburgh suffered at home against Saracens last weekend, insisting the score line fails to reflect the positive things the Scottish side produced in the game.

"They did some really good things against Saracens." he said. "If you look at that game closely you'd be remiss to disregard their display totally because they did some really good things.

"I know it’s very un-Edinburgh like, but they got beaten up a few times at some breakdown situations and a couple of times at set-piece so undoubtedly they'll be doing some work in that area.

“They'll come to Thomond Park, hopefully thinking they're coming in under the radar after that loss.

“But we're certainly doing as much diligent research as we'd done in any other game to ensure that we're as prepared as we can be.

"I think there are two sides hurting a bit and it could be fireworks."

Munster (v. Edinburgh): D Hurley; D Howlett ©, C Laulala, J Downey, S Zebo; I Keatley, C Murray; D Kilcoyne, M Sherry, BJ Botha; D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell; D Ryan, S Dougall, P O'Mahony.

Replacements: D Varley, M Horan, S Archer, B Holland, P Butler, D Williams, JJ Hanrahan, F Jones.