MAGNERS LEAGUE PREVIEW/Munster v Ulster:A GOOD OLD provincial scrap is the perfect tonic after a depressing Six Nations. Never one for nostalgia, however, Declan Kidney has not picked what many would perceive as the strongest Munster side for tonight's provincial derby against a rejuvenated Ulster under Matt Williams.
David Wallace is back jogging on his damaged shin, while an update on Denis Leamy's shoulder is expected next week. The Munster camp are confident both will be back in harness for the Heineken European Cup quarter-final against Gloucester in Kingsholm on April 5th.
For now, though, there is the small matter of Ulster, then Connacht, in the Magners League: ideal tune-ups for the defining matches of Munster's season.
Kidney has made some interesting decisions, leaving Peter Stringer, Donncha O'Callaghan and John Hayes in reserve.
Tomás O'Leary is named at scrumhalf, Mick O'Driscoll partners Paul O'Connell in the engine room, and Tony Buckley gets a well-deserved start at tighthead prop.
Widely seen as Hayes's heir apparent, Buckley looked comfortable at international level in the cameos he was afforded during the Six Nations.
Rua Tipoki is ruled out with a back complaint so Kieran Lewis comes in at outside centre, while another Leinster exile, Niall Ronan, makes up the backrow alongside Alan Quinlan and Anthony Foley, who earns a remarkable 195th cap.
"It's a huge game for us because we are fully aware we have to win our remaining seven games to put pressure on the league leaders," said Kidney. "Ulster have won all their games since the appointment of their new coach, Matt Williams, so they've built up momentum and we know we are up against it.
"It's great, of course, to have the internationals back, to be working again with a full squad. But those not involved at international levels have trained well and worked hard in the period when the others were away. The team we've selected for tomorrow reflects that, I believe."
Munster academy products Ian Dowling and Denis Hurley get opportunities to stake claims for starting berths ahead of Brian Carney and Shaun Payne.
Williams finally gets a chance to reveal his strongest Ulster line-up. Andrew Trimble had an encouraging start to his Six Nations campaign only to struggle for form against Wales and England. He comes straight into the team at outside centre alongside the frequently overlooked Paddy Wallace.
Paul Marshall and Niall O'Connor form an inexperienced but potentially long-term halfback partnership.
The Musgrave Park surrounds and a fired-up Munster eight will provide the litmus test.
"We have a good young side and we want to see how some of the younger players perform in a tough environment down in Munster," said Williams. "There is not a lot between any of the players but this is just an opportunity for them to come out and play
"Training has been good this week' we had all the players back that we haven't had in months.
"Trimble hasn't been with the team for two months and Paddy, Tommy (Bowe) and Rory (Best) have only been with us for 48 hours before the last two games, Carlo (Del Fava) is the same. So this week it has been about fitting a lot of our players into training. We have an injury to Simon Danielli so there has been a lot to do."
Ulster arrive in Cork as the form team but that counts for little in this age-old rivalry. Expect the intensity to go up a notch with the second-half introductions of O'Callaghan and Justin Harrison.
With Ronan O'Gara back, Munster will be expected to realign their usual patterns ahead of a return to European action. It should be enough to stall the Williams revolution.
MUNSTER: D Hurley; D Howlett, K Lewis, L Mafi, I Dowling; R O'Gara, T O'Leary; M Horan, J Flannery, T Buckley; M O'Driscoll, P O'Connell (capt); A Quinlan, N Ronan, A Foley. Replacements: F Sheahan, J Hayes, D O'Callaghan, D Ryan, J Coughlan, P Stringer, P Warwick.
ULSTER: B Cunningham; T Bowe, A Trimble, P Wallace, M Bartholomeusz; N O'Connor, P Marshall; J Fitzpatrick, R Best (capt), T Court; R Caldwell, C Del Fava; N Best, D Pollock, S Ferris. Replacements: N Brady, B Young, J Harrison, M McCullough, I Boss, R Dewey, M McCrea.
Referee: A Rolland (IRFU).
Verdict: Munster to win.
