Munster have named a formidable looking side to take on and soak the challenge that the Sale Sharks will bring to Thomond Park tomorrow nightin their Heieneken Cup clash in front of a sell out 26,000 crowd.
The side sees number of changes from the last cup team selected to play Clermont in early December, where Paul Warwick returns to the Heineken Cup starting line up and slots in at fullback with Keith Earls moving into the centre to partner Mafi
in the absence of the injured Tipoki.
Changes in the pack are few with Horan returning from a very recent bout of illness to take up his front row berth and Niall Ronan moves to the bench as back row cover with Denis Leamy returning to the partner Quinlan and Wallace.
Pucciairello offers cover to the props on the bench, while Hurley is selected ahead of Kieran Lewis as cover in the backline. Barry Murphy is also selected amongst the replacements.
Munster Team to play Sale Sharks: P Warwick; D Howlett, K Earls, L Mafi, I Dowling, R O’Gara, T O’Leary; M Horan, J Flannery, J Hayes; D O’Callaghan, P O’Connell capt, A Quinlan, D Wallace, D Leamy. Replacements: D Fogarty, F Pucciariello, D Ryan, N Ronan, P Stringer, B Murphy, D Hurley.
Sale Sharks have also named their side for tomorrow’s Heineken Cup game at Thomond Park against Munster.
The only change to last weeks starting line up is that Richard Wigglesworth and Dwayne Peel are rotated at scrum half with Richard starting. On the bench Carl Fearns is preferred to Luke Abraham.
Mark Cueto, Chris Bell, Andy Tuilagi, Luke McAlister, David Doherty, Charlie Hodgson, Richard Wigglesworth, Lionel Faure, Marc Jones, Eifion Roberts, Sebastien Chabal, Dean Schofield, Chris Jones, Neil Briggs, JM Fernandez Lobbe (Captain)
Replacements: Stuart Turner, Andrew Sheridan, Brent Cockbain, Carl Fearns, Dwayne Peel, Rudi Keil, Mathew Tait
Director of Rugby Philippe Saint Andre said, “Quite simply, we need to win both our remaining games to stand a chance of qualifying for the quarter finals. As things stand any one of the four teams in our group can still qualify. We always knew it was winner takes all in Group A of the Heineken Cup and that no team would qualify as a runner up in this group. We have had a good run of late but this is a huge test for us, against the holders on their home ground. We have nearly 3000 of our fans making the journey with us and I am sure they will give the players great support.”
