RUGBY/Celtic League: The predicted changes to the provincial squads because of Ireland's match against Romania on Saturday forcefully swept in yesterday with all four coaches patching sides together for Friday's second round of Celtic League fixtures.
Leinster, who select their team at lunchtime today, are likely to travel to Glasgow with only four or five of the players who started against Pontypridd last Friday. Christian Warner, Gordon D'Arcy, Andy Dunne and Brian O'Meara should remain in what will be an otherwise completely revised line-up.
It is hoped that Victor Costello, who was drafted into the Irish squad as back-row cover, will return and begin the match as the only back-five player who started last week's game with Matt Williams facing the prospect of meeting the Scottish side with 10 international players unavailable.
Alan Gaffney, also forced to test the depth of his squad, has made nine changes to the Munster side to face Ebbw Vale at Musgrave Park. Seven of those have come about because of his players' involvement with Ireland. With that in mind a number of regulars step up to the plate along with two newcomers.
Captain Jim Williams returns, having missed the side's win over Llanelli due to personal reasons, while John O'Neill, who was forced to cry off that game, returns to the wing in place of John Kelly.
Killian Keane steps into the vacancy left by Ronan O'Gara at outhalf while Alan Quinlan is named at blind side, though Eddie Halvey remains on standby in the event that Quinlan is required by the national side.
Dominic Malone at nine and prop Simon Kerr make their competitive debuts in place of Ireland scrumhalf Peter Stringer and John Hayes while the mercurial Jeremy Staunton is handed the full back jersey.
Connacht coach Steph Nel hopes that the most capped player in the province's history, Eric Elwood, will be available for the game against Cardiff in Galway although that now looks doubtful. Elwood retired with a rib injury in the side's 28-27 win away to Borders last week and his place at outhalf has been left vacant.
In addition Paul Neville has been brought in at flanker in place of the dynamic Johnny O'Connor, who was also forced out of last week's match just before half-time with an ankle injury.
Gavin Duffy, who was selected for the Borders game but failed a fitness test on his ankle, again misses the starting line-up but hopes to be in contention for Friday week's meeting with Leinster.
Ulster have been forced to wait to see how a bruised hip improves for Jeremy Davidson and name three players, Davidson, Tony McWhirter and Mark Blair, for the two second-row positions. The former Lion will find out today whether he is fit to face Edinburgh at Ravenhill Road on Friday evening.
Gary Longwell and David Humphreys have been lost to Ireland while captain Andy Ward is forced out with an ankle injury and Matt McCullough remains benched with a fractured cheekbone.
The reshuffling sees Bryn Cunningham move to full back for the adaptable Paddy Wallace, who covers the outhalf position for Humphreys, with Russel Nelson coming into the back row for McWhirter and Neil McMillan for Ward. Johnny Bell, at centre, wears the captain's arm band.
CONNACHT: M McHugh; T Robinson, D Yapp, T Allnutt (capt), W Munn; AN Other, E Reddan; R McCormack, M Uijs, P Bracken, W Waugh, R Frost, M Swift, E Peters, P Neville. Replacements: D McFarland, H Bourke, C Rigney, J O'Sullivan, C Keane, S Moore, D O'Sullivan.
MUNSTER: J Staunton; J O'Neill, M Mullins, J Holland, M Lawlor; K Keane, D Malone; M Horan, J Blaney, S Kerr, M Galwey, M O'Driscoll, A Quinlan/E Halvey, C McMahon. Replacements: A N Other, J Fogarty, D O'Callaghan, A N Other, M Prendergast, C Mahony, D Crotty.
ULSTER: B Cunningham; S Coulter, R Constable, J Bell (capt), T Howe; P Wallace, N Doak; R Kempson, M Sexton, S Best, T McWhirter/M Blair/J Davidson, W Brosnihan, N McMillan, R Nelson.
WEEKEND FIXTURES
FRIDAY
Celtic League: Connacht v Cardiff, The Sportsground, 6.0; Ulster v Edinburgh, Ravenhill Road, 7.30; Glasgow v Leinster, Hughenden 7.30; Munster v Ebbw Vale, Musgrave Park, 7.35
SATURDAY
International: Ireland v Romania, Thomond Park, 1.30
Ulster Senior League (2.30): City of Derry v Belfast Harlequins, Judges Road; Instonians v Dungannon, Shaws Bridge; Malone v Banbridge, Gibson Park; Portadown v Ballymena, Chambers Park; Queen's University v Ballynahinch, QUB
Under-21 Interprovincial: Ulster v Leinster, Ravenhill Road 2.30; Munster v Connacht, Musgrave Park 2.0.
Leinster Senior League (3.0, although times may change): Bective v St Mary's, Donnybrook; Skerries v Old Wesley, Holmpatrick; Old Belvedere v Suttonians, Anglesea Road; UCD V DLSP, Belfield; Greystones v Terenure, Dr Hickey Park; Wanderers v Blackrock, Lansdowne Road.
Munster Senior Club (3.0): Clonakilty v Thomond, Shannon Vale; Cork Constitution v Garryowen, Temple Hill; Midleton v Dolphin, Towns Park; Old Crescent v UL Bohemians, Rosbrien; Shannon v Waterpark, Coonagh.
SUNDAY
Munster Senior Club: Sunday's Well v Young Munster, Musgrave Park, 3.0.
