Matt Williams may wait until tomorrow, the day of the game against Bristol at Donnybrook, before deciding who will fill the number six jersey vacated by Eric Miller through injury. Des Dillon, Aidan McCullen and Ben Gissing are the three players in contention. Williams pointed out: "Each player brings something different. We will have to wait and see what the weather and the pitch is like before making a decision. There are a couple of issues there."
Leinster
Miller is likely to be out for just a couple of weeks as the break he suffered in his hand was a clean one that didn't require an operation. He joins Peter McKenna, Peter Coyle, Ben Willis, Niall Treston, Andy Dunne and Nathan Spooner on the sidelines.
The injury jinx that appears to haunt the Leinster number 10 jersey has struck again with the news that Andy Dunne yesterday underwent surgery for a shoulder injury. He could be out of action for anything from eight weeks to six months.
Better news is that long-term casualty Spooner will be free to play club rugby from November 1st having recovered from his shoulder surgery.
Leinster field 14 of the 15 players who hammered Newport last time. Williams is able to field from a largely full-strength side for only the second time this season.
LEINSTER: G Dempsey; D Hickie, B O'Driscoll, S Horgan, G D'Arcy; C Warner, B O'Meara; R Corrigan (capt), S Byrne, P Wallace; L Cullen, M O'Kelly; A McCullen/D Dillon/B Gissing, V Costello, K Gleeson. Replacements: P Smyth, E Byrne, A Kearney, McCullen/Dillon/Gissing, B O'Riordan, A Magro, D Quinlan.
Munster
Alan Gaffney makes just one change to the side that beat Neath for Saturday's game against Gloucester at Kingsholm. Donncha O'Callaghan suffered a fractured jaw and has been ruled out. His place in the second row goes to Mick Galwey, with Eddie Halvey included among the replacements.
Gaffney admitted: "Donncha took a blow to the jaw and has sustained a fracture but it isn't as bad as we first feared.
"Besides that, there wasn't much debate about the formation of the side for Saturday after that performance in Wales. We had some close calls in selecting the side for Neath and there were players I believe were unlucky to lose out. But then the guys go out and put in a performance like they did and you have to leave well enough alone.
"It'll be as tough a game as these boys are likely to face all season. This is a really good Gloucester outfit, a physical side, and I mean that in a positive sense. They have the same passionate sense of support that Munster enjoy at home and right now they're on a roll."
MUNSTER: J Staunton; J Kelly, M Mullins, R Henderson, M Lawlor; R O'Gara, P Stringer; M Horan, F Sheahan, J Hayes; M Galwey, M O'Driscoll; J Williams (capt), A Foley, A Quinlan. Replacements: J Blaney, S Kerr, E Halvey, D Leamy, M Prendergast, J Holland, D Crotty.
Ulster
Shane Stewart has won coach Alan Solomons's approval to partner Johnny Bell in midfield for Sunday's game against Northampton at Franklin's Gardens. The New Zealand-born centre replaces Ryan Constable, the latter forced to endure a mandatory three weeks' rest after suffering concussion just five minutes into the victory over Caerphilly.
In one further change to the back line James Topping returns on the right wing after injury in preference to Scott Young, Topping's greater experience and physique singled out by Solomons.
Ulster are still without captain Andy Ward who has only just had the plaster removed from an ankle injury. Absent too is South African-born number eight Russell Nelson, who is still a fortnight away from recovering from an adductor muscle injury. Warren Brosnihan, Tony McWhirter and Neil McMillan form a powerful and lively breakaway trio in a clash of two former Heineken European Cup winners.
ULSTER: B Cunningham; J Topping, S Stewart, J Bell, T Howe; D Humphreys, N Doak; J Fitzpatrick, M Sexton, R Kempson; G Longwell, J Davidson; W Brosnihan, T McWhirter, N McMillan. Replacements: P Shields, S Best, M Blair, N Best, K Campbell, A Larkin, S Young.
Bristol
Former England wing David Rees and Craig Short return to the Bristol team for their clash with Leinster. Rees starts on the right wing in place of Brendon Daniel, who misses out after picking up a back injury in last weekend's Premiership fixture against Leeds.
The 27 year-old Short starts as blindside flanker, with England international Ben Sturnham moving over to number eight. Back row forward Matt Salter misses out after picking up a knock last weekend.
All Black international centre Daryl Gibson is looking forward to his clash with Leinster's Lion Brian O'Driscoll. "He's a good player, plays like a Kiwi - very abrasive and plenty of skill - so I'm looking forward to that encounter."
Other team selections include Shane Drahm continuing at full back in the absence of both Lee Best (rib) and Jamie Williams (knee) through injury.
Saul Nelson continues at hooker in place of Neil McCarthy (knee) and Archer leads the team while Ross Beattie continues his recovery from an Achilles injury.
BRISTOL: S Drahm; D Rees, M Shaw, D Gibson, P Christophers; F Contepomi, A Pichot; D Crompton, S Nelson, E Bergamaschi; G Archer (capt), A Brown; C Short, B Sturnham, M Lipman. Replacements: P Richards, M Carrington, A Higgins, C Rowland, P Johnstone, A Sheridan/S Morgan, R Oakley.
Connacht
Steph Nel will finalise and announce the team to play Mont-de-Marsan before a training session at the ALSAA complex in Dublin this morning.
Connacht fly out to Bordeaux at lunchtime today for the first leg of their Challenge Cup tie against the French side.
Warwick Waugh (shoulder) and Chris Keane (calf) are definite absentees.
Nel received a fillip with the news that Gavin Duffy, who has yet to play a competitive match for the province this season, and Johnny O'Connor, who has enjoyed less than 80 minutes of action, came through a game with Galwegians at the weekend. Centre Darren Yapp has recovered from the back injury that sidelined him for last weekend's defeat by Pontypridd.
Rugby Skills Guide
Brian O'Driscoll was on hand to launch the Frosties Rugby Skills Guide that bears his name at Lansdowne Road yesterday.He is spearheading a campaign to promote the development of skills among young rugby players under the auspices of the IRFU Youth Development programme.
The "Earn Your Stripes" programme is about equipping children with the basic skills of rugby in a safe and fun environment. A booklet has been provided with O'Driscoll offering tips for the drills included.
Schools or clubs wishing to take part can contact a provincial development manager at one of the following numbers. Leinster: 2693224; Munster: 021 4323563; Ulster: 028 44830417; Connacht: 091 770236.
