PRO12 LEAGUE:MUNSTER COACH Tony McGahan has included Felix Jones in a 28-man squad for Saturday's RaboDirect Pro12 game against Benetton Treviso in Stadio Comunale di Monigo. The fullback successfully negotiated 80 minutes for Shannon last Friday night, his first game back since damaging ligaments in his foot/ankle in a pre-World Cup match against France six months ago.
The unfortunate 24-year-old Dubliner has been bedevilled by injury and Irish rugby supporters would like to see him get an uninterrupted run of matches.
The Munster management will make a decision on whether it is preferential for Jones to play an Ulster Bank League match with his club this weekend or travel to Italy.
Forwards coach Anthony Foley explained: “Felix (Jones) came through fine. He trained fully. He looked sharp. There was good chat out of him. It is great. Having him available is like signing another player. He has not been with us all season, getting injured in a pre-World Cup game, and we are delighted to have him back in.
“In relation to Felix and the other players coming back from injury, we will decide whether they are involved in the Pro12 fixture against Treviso or for their clubs in the AIL based on their needs.”
Openside flanker Tommy O’Donnell and hooker Mike Sherry are also included in the extended squad, having stepped up their rehabilitation.
O’Donnell hasn’t played since damaging his knee in a league match against Ulster at Ravenhill in December, while Sherry’s ankle injury-enforced sabbatical – he sustained the problem in a club game – from provincial duties dates back to October of last year.
The Ireland team management released Ronan O’Gara, Donnacha Ryan, Peter O’Mahony and Keith Earls back to the province at the beginning of the week.
The quartet did travel to Carton House yesterday for a one-day training session with the national squad. O’Gara and Ryan may travel to Italy, but Earls, according to Munster, will remain in Limerick to be with his partner and newly born baby girl.
Meanwhile, the Scarlets’ newest international, Ben Morgan, who made a conspicuously positive impact on his introduction in England’s victory over Italy in Rome last weekend, has been released to play for the Welsh club in their league clash with Leinster at the RDS tomorrow night.
The strong-running number eight, who chose England over Wales having qualified for both countries – he is being strongly linked with a move to Gloucester – won his first two caps when coming off the bench for England in the victories over Scotland and Italy.
His second-half cameo in Rome makes him a strong contender for a starting place in the English backrow for their clash with Wales at Twickenham on Saturday week.
First, though, he may get some game time at the RDS tomorrow night and the Scarlets are optimistic fellow Welsh squad members Stephen Jones, Scott Williams, Lou Reed and Rhodri Jones will be released to play against the Irish province.
Prop Iestyn Thomas, who suffered a neck injury in the 19-9 defeat to Glasgow, is definitely out of the Leinster match.
Ulster will have Chris Henry, Tom Court, Paddy Wallace and Dan Tuohy available for tomorrow night’s league game against the Cardiff Blues at the Arms Park. Henry will take over the captaincy from the injured Johann Muller.
The Ospreys yesterday appointed Steve Tandy as their new head coach after Sean Holley stepped down by mutual consent.
Tandy will take charge of team affairs for tomorrow’s clash with Aironi at the Liberty Stadium.
MUNSTER (squad v Treviso): M Horan, W du Preez, S Archer, J Ryan, BJ Botha, D Fogarty, D Varley, S Henry, M Sherry, D Ryan, B Holland, M O’Driscoll, T O’Donnell, Dave O’Callaghan, P O’Mahony, J Coughlan, P Butler, D Williams, T O’Leary, C Sheridan, R O’Gara, S Deasy, S Zebo, J Murphy, L Mafi, D Barnes, D Hurley, F Jones.
ULSTER (squad v Cardiff): C Black, A Macklin, J Afoa, T Court, J Cronin, P McAllister, A Kyriacou, N Brady, L Stevenson, T Barker, D Tuohy, N McComb, W Faloon, C Henry (capt), M McComish, R Diack, P Marshall, R Pienaar, I Porter, I Humphreys, L Marshall, P Wallace, I Whitten, N Spence, M Allen, S Terblanche, C Gilroy, C Gaston, S Danielli, C Cochrane, A D’Arcy.
