Rugby Celtic League: Alan Gaffney has been able to call on Martin McPhail, Jason Holland and Denis Leamy to face Glasgow at Musgrave Park tomorrow night. Leamy comes in at blindside flanker, Stephen Keogh moving into the second row for Donal Sheehan. Leamy joins David Wallace and captain Jim Williams in what is a formidable back row.
It is a timely recovery for the three players as it's just three weeks since Munster last met Glasgow in Hughenden in the Celtic Cup. On that occasion the team started the match strongly but let it slip out of their control, the Scots finally winning the game.
The trio's return to fitness also compensates to some extent for the missing Shaun Payne and Eddie Halvey, who both picked up injuries during the team's defeat in Newport. Both have been ruled out of contention for this game. In all Gaffney has made five changes to the team that started last Friday, one of them positional.
In the back line, McPhail takes over on the wing from the injured Payne (knee), while Holland comes back into the centre to renew his old partnership with Mike Mullins. Subsequently, Conrad O'Sullivan reverts to the bench. In the front row Frank Roche retains his place at tighthead prop, having replaced Jody Danagher last week.
Williams, looking back at the game three weeks ago, remains optimistic that Munster can turn it around this time out. "We played some really good football that night but maybe lacked a bit of consistency, a bit of concentration," he said. "They have a massive pack, particularly, their front row, so we will need to put in the tackles.
"I think it will be important for us to get to the breakdown and secure the ball, work on our lineout and just tighten up generally around the park. As I said before things are starting to come right for us. It's slow but that is to be expected with players coming and going through injury. I think that ourselves and Glasgow are pretty evenly matched and Friday's game will come down to whoever wants it the most."
MUNSTER (v Glasgow): D Crotty; M McPhail, M Mullins, J Holland, M Lawlor; J Staunton, E Reddan; S Kerr, A Long, F Roche, T Hogan, S Keogh, D Leamy, D Wallace, J Williams. Replacements: E McGovern, J Blaney, D Sheahan, C McMahon, F Murphy, C O'Sullivan, C Casey.
