Zebo returns for Harlequins clash but Howlett ruled out

There is mixed news for Munster on the injury front as Simon Zebo returns from injury for Sunday’s Heineken Cup quarter-final against Halequins (2pm) but skipper Doug Howlett misses out through a shoulder injury.

Sunday’s clash will be Zebo’s first game for Munster since the Racing Metro fixture in January after which he injured a foot in the second game of the RBS Six Nations against England.

Howlett damaged a shoulder in the act of reaching for the line to score a try last weekend against Glasgow Warriors.

He sat out Tuesday’s session in Musgrave Park and his place goes to Denis Hurley with Paul O’Connell deputising as skipper.

Also returning to the side are internationals Conor Murray, Peter O’Mahony and Donnacha Ryan who was considered a doubt earlier in the week.

Like Murray and O’Mahony, Ryan hasn’t featured since the Italy encounter for which he was considered doubtful because of a shoulder/back injury that had been affecting him during the Six Nations.

Nevertheless he gets the nod over Donncha O’Callaghan to partner Paul O’Connell in the second row while Cathal Sheridan and Ivan Dineen both named among the replacements get a first taste of Heineken Cup rugby.

Munster (v. Harlequins): F Jones; D Hurley, C Laulala, J Downey, S Zebo; R O’Gara, C Murray; D Kilcoyne , M Sherry BJ Botha; D Ryan, P O’Connell (capt); P O’Mahony, T O’Donnell , J Coughlan.

Replacements: D Varley W du Preez, S Archer, Donncha O’Callaghan, P Butler, C Sheridan, I Keatley, I Dineen.