Rugby:Keith Earls has been named in a rejigged Munster backline for tomorrow evening's trip to face London Irish in Reading. After recovering from groin and ankle injuries, the Ireland winger will make his first start since last season's Magners League semi-finals.
With Tomas O’Leary the latest addition to the list of walking wounded at Thomond Park, and Lifeimi Mafi suspended for seven weeks, Munster coach Tony McGahan has been forced to rethink his options behind the scrum.
Earls replaces Mafi while Peter Stringer is restored at scrumhalf but McGahan’s decision to drop fullback Paul Warwick is perhaps the most eye-catching change. Warwick is forced to make do with a place on the bench as Johne Murphy moves from the wing where Denis Hurley starts.
Up front, McGahan hasn’t been afraid to shuffle his pack with Tony Buckley reclaiming the number three jersey from John Hayes after missing the defeat to Leinster with a stomach bug. In the back row, James Coughlan is preferred to the veteran warhorse Alan Quinlan who drops out of the squad entirely.
"It's great to have Keith back,” assistant coach Mick Galwey said today. “He did a full session on Tuesday and came through that with no ill-effects. The only concern would of course be match time. He hasn't had any of that for a long time.
“But it's great to have him back in the match day squad, particularly when you think of the injuries we have. It's important to get back as many players as we can.”
Prolific winger Sailosi Tagicakibau will win his 100th London Irish cap after turning the tide against Leeds last weekend from the bench. Elvis Seveali’i and Faan Rautenbach also return to the London Irish side The Exiles, Heineken Cup semi-finalists in 2008, expect a close to capacity 24,000 Madejski Stadium crowd for the visit of Munster.
“Despite Munster’s reputation, we are confident in our own ability and have prepared for the match exceptionally well,” said Irish head coach Toby Booth. “We believe that on our day we can be a handful for any team, whatever their history, and I am expecting an excellent game of rugby. We are predicting great support and a big crowd and I would encourage our supporters to come out in force.”
London Irish:D Armitage; T Ojo, E Seveali'I, S Mapusua, S Tagicakibau; R Lamb, P Hodgson; C Dermody, J Buckland, F Rautenbach; N Kennedy, B Casey; K Roche, D Danaher, G Stowers. Replacements:D Paice; M Lahiff, A Corbisiero, M Garvey, C Hala'ufia, J Joseph, D Bowden, D Allinson.
Munster:J Murphy; D Howlett, K Earls, S Tuitupou, D Hurley, R O'Gara, P Stringer; W du Preez, D Varley, T Buckley; D O'Callaghan, D Ryan; D Leamy capt, N Ronan J Coughlan. Replacements:M Sherry, M Horan, J Hayes, M O'Driscoll, D Wallace, D Williams, P Warwick, S Deasy.
“Despite Munster’s reputation, we are confident in our own ability and have prepared for the match exceptionally well,” said Irish head coach Toby Booth. “We believe that on our day we can be a handful for any team, whatever their history, and I am expecting an excellent game of rugby. We are predicting great support and a big crowd and I would encourage our supporters to come out in force.”
London Irish:D Armitage; T Ojo, E Seveali'I, S Mapusua, S Tagicakibau; R Lamb, P Hodgson; C Dermody, J Buckland, F Rautenbach; N Kennedy, B Casey; K Roche, D Danaher, G Stowers. Replacements:D Paice; M Lahiff, A Corbisiero, M Garvey, C Hala'ufia, J Joseph, D Bowden, D Allinson.
Munster:J Murphy; D Howlett, K Earls, S Tuitupou, D Hurley, R O'Gara, P Stringer; W du Preez, D Varley, T Buckley; D O'Callaghan, D Ryan; D Leamy capt, N Ronan J Coughlan. Replacements:M Sherry, M Horan, J Hayes, M O'Driscoll, D Wallace, D Williams, P Warwick, S Deasy.