MUNSTER ARE ravaged by injury as they try and park the disappointment of last weekend’s Heineken Cup defeat by Ulster and recalibrate focus and enthusiasm to push towards a semi-final place in the RaboDirect Pro 12.
It’s a difficult remit given the litany of high -profile absentees and the quality of the opposition they face.
Glasgow Warriors are level on points with their hosts and will be aware that victory tonight will give them significant impetus in the scramble for the play-offs.
BJ Botha (ribs), Paul O’Connell (knee), James Coughlan (hand), Keith Earls (ankle), Ronan O’Gara (leg), Denis Hurley (leg) and David Wallace (knee) are all sidelined for Munster as are Danny Barnes (knee), Dave Foley (shoulder), Ian Nagle (shoulder) and Dave O’Callaghan (knee).
O’Connell worked hard to rehab medial ligament damage in time to come back against Ulster. It is now a question of managing his well being and according to a Munster spokesperson he should be available for selection for the game against the Scarlets next weekend.
Earls has suffered minor ankle ligament damage but that he too should be back for the Llanelli game. Donncha O’Callaghan will make his 200th appearance for the province alongside captain, Mick O’Driscoll in the secondrow. Peter O’Mahony switches to number eight with Donnacha Ryan joining him in the backrow at blindside flanker.
Munster coach Tony McGahan has elected to start Tomas O’Leary at scrumhalf where he will partner Ian Keatley. Johne Murphy is named at outside centre. Shannon’s Luke O’Dea – he scored a brilliant individual try against Leinster A in the British Irish Cup semi-final at the RDS – is named on the right wing.
Warriors’ coach Sean Lineen makes six changes to the side that thumped the Cardiff Blues 31-3 in their last outing. Ryan Wilson and Graeme Morrison miss out due to knee injuries and John Barclay not having recovered sufficiently from a blow to the head.
Peter Murchie starts at fullback, with the exciting Stuart Hogg and Alex Dunbar teaming up in the centres. Jon Welsh and Pat MacArthur come into the frontrow, Lions candidate and try scorer against Ireland Richie Gray starts in the secondrow while Johnnie Beattie replaces Wilson at number eight.
Lineen said: “Munster away is one of the toughest games you can get, but the players have consistently risen to the challenges that have been put in front of them this season and we’ve every confidence they can deliver again.
Time and again Munster have proved their resilience in adversity, eking out a victory in Musgrave Park this evening given all the constraints would rank up there in terms of achievement.
MUNSTER: F Jones; L O’Dea, J Murphy, L Mafi, S Zebo; I Keatley, T O’Leary; W du Preez, M Sherry, S Archer; D O’Callaghan, M O’Driscoll capt; D Ryan, T O’Donnell, P O’Mahony. Replacements: D Varley, M Horan, J Ryan, B Holland, P Butler, C Murray, S Deasy, I Dineen.
GLASGOW WARRIORS: P Murchie; F Aramburu, S Hogg, A Dunbar, C Shaw; R Jackson, C Cusiter; J Welsh, P MacArthur, M Cusack; R Gray; A Kellock (capt); R Harley, C Fusaro, J Beattie. Replacements: D Hall, R Grant, M Low, T Ryder, C Forrester, H Pyrgos, D Weir, T Seymour.
Referee: N Owens (Wales).
