WITH Munster having been dealt a blow when Tomas O’Leary was forced out of playing for the next eight weeks, Tony McGahan was somewhat buoyant in announcing the return of Keith Earls to the starting 15 for this weekend’s encounter against London Irish in the opening round of the Heineken Cup.
Keith Earls returns to Munster action for the first time since May, Peter Stringer replaces the wounded Tomas O’Leary and Johne Murphy moves to full back
with Denis Hurley taking over from the Kildareman on the wing as Munster head for the Madjeski and the clash with London Irish (Saturday 5.45pm).
Up front, Tony Buckley, recovered from the illness that forced him to miss the Leinster game, comes into the front-row, while Denis Leamy moves from the 8 to 6 berth with James Coughlan anchoring the scrum.
On Saturday Donncha O’Callaghan is set to win his 170th cap.
“That wasn’t something I was really aware of and not really something I’ll dwell on. This competition is special. It’s near enough international standard and everyone, players and supporters alike seem to get that bit extra bit hyper.
“Like Paulie (O’Connell) said the other day we seem to have a knack of drawing the English team that’s flying in these opening rounds. Northampton last year. There was Wasps, Gloucester, Sale. Yeh and now London Irish who are just driving over sides so far this season.
“And our record hasn’t been that good. So that’s something we’d be looking to improve. They’ll be favourites, course they will. Home games are so important in a group like this and they’ll be aware of that. With them having to come to us in round 6 they’ll be looking for a bonus point win on Saturday. That brings it’s own pressure I suppose so we’ll see hoe they handle that.”
Flanker Niall Ronan said; “They (London Irish) look a fairly sharp outfit. Look to like playing it with ball in hand, quality players right across the park Bob Casey, Clark Dermody, Declan Danaher, George Stowers then the likes of Mapusua, Paul Hodgson Topsy Ojo in the backs
“I think they’ll look to run us off our feet. But we’ll wont dwell too long on them. We’ve done our homework on them and then we concentrate on ourselves. The loss to Leinster will be put in perspective by this game. They (Leinster) are a good side, kept London Irish out of the play offs last year so that game I think will stand to us despite the loss. For us I think it’s a case of tightening up from where we were at last weekend. The quality of opposition wont be any better I think it a question of whether we can bring our game plan out that will decide this.”
Munster: J Murphy; D Howlett, K Earls, S Tuitupou, D Hurley, R O’Gara, P Stringer; W du Preez, D Varley, T Buckley; D O’Callaghan, D Ryan; D Leamy capt, N Ronan J Coughlan.Replacements: M Sherry, M Horan, J Hayes, M O’Driscoll, D Wallace, D Williams, P Warwick, S Deasy.
