PRO 12 TEAM NEWS:DON'T EXPECT a raft of familiar faces in the second tranche of seasonal derby matches in Galway and Belfast this weekend. With an Irish team get-together taking out the frontline internationals, Munster travel to Ravenhill without that decorated cohort. Injuries and the rotation policy ensures the absence of other players.
Coach Tony McGahan has named a 31-man squad which does not include Cork Con backrow Peter O’Mahony, who is recovering from a jaw injury. Danny Barnes benefits from the Munster player welfare system after 11 starts this season as well as three appearances from the bench. The side to play Ulster will be announced today at lunchtime.
Leinster travel to the Sportsground unsure, at this stage, of who will be available to line out. Fionn Carr, upbeat about facing his old province on Sunday but limping and in a “precautionary” ankle cast, seems doubtful for the 5pm kick-off.
Second row Steven Sykes, who sustained a knock to the knee in the win over Ulster, is also struggling, while Mat Berquist (knee) and Dominic Ryan (ankle) are on course for January returns as they stepped up their rehabilitation in recent weeks. Brian O’Driscoll remains a six-month casualty after shoulder surgery.
Eric Elwood, who admires the way Leinster play their rugby, may have to plot the European champions’ downfall without a number of his preferred choices. The Connacht coach’s thankless job this weekend is to stop a losing streak that now extends to 11 matches in all competitions.
Six players are nursing injuries and were unable to train yesterday following Monday night’s loss to Munster. Flanker Dave Gannon, tight-head Rodney Ah You and scrum-half Paul O’Donoghue are all struggling, while Johnny O’Connor, Eoin Griffin and Ethienne Reynecke all stood out of training following their bruising test in Thomond Park.
“We are trying to get back on track and the next team in front of us are European champions. They are playing exceptionally well,” said Elwood. “They are missing players but they’ve such depth in their squad and they’d a terrific victory last week. They have the ability to score a lot of points from anywhere.
“We are doing a lot of good stuff, playing good rugby but we just haven’t been able to get the rewards. We see this weekend as another big opportunity, a home game and a derby match. We feel it’s an opportunity to turn our season around. It won’t be easy against the European champions but that’s the challenge.”
Connacht go into the game somewhat disappointed after Munster. The general trend has been of a team who can put themselves in positions to score but fall short on the delivery. Maintaining a high tempo for over 80 minutes has also been problematic.
“We are creating the chances it’s just being able to take them,” added Elwood. “Obviously when you are under that little bit of pressure what’s your execution like? That’s the key for us.
“The manner in which Leinster play has to be admired. I love the way they play but if we play our game we can create chances and it’s a matter of us taking those chances.” Dave Nolan (broken leg), Andrew Browne (Achilles), James Loxton (knee) and Mark McCrea (hamstring) also miss out.
MUNSTER SQUAD: J Murphy, D Hurley, S Scanlon, L O’Dea, S Zebo, I Keatley, D Williams, T O’Leary, T Gleeson, W Chambers, S Deasy, L Mafi, M Horan, W du Preez, J Ryan, S Archer, D Kilcoyne, BJ Botha, D Fogarty, S Henry, D Varley, B Holland, M O’Driscoll, I Nagle, N Ronan, Dave O’Callaghan, T O’Donnell, D Leamy, P Butler, J Coughlan. Unavailable due to IRFU player management policy: Donncha O’Callaghan, P O’Connell, D Ryan, C Murray, R O’Gara, K Earls.
