Heineken Cup:Despite not taking part in training this morning both Paul O'Connell and Keith Earls are expected to be named in the matchday 22 to face Northampton Saints in the Heineken Cup quarter-final at Thomond Park on Saturday. The lock and centre were suffering from groin strains but were named in this morning's 28-man squad and are expected to be on the teamsheet come Friday afternoon.
Having been afforded a rest after Ireland's disappointing end to the Six Nations campaign, and after being ruled out of last week's defeat to Leinster in the Magners League, neither has played since the 20-23 defeat to Scotland at Croke Park on March 20th.
Keenly aware of the danger Saints pose up front, coach Tony McGahan will be adamant O’Connell, in particular, is in the starting line-up.
"We realise where we are against Northampton, they're a terrific scrummaging unit and we need to perform against them,” he said today. “We need to be at our best Saturday evening if we want to get the result."
Springbok centre Jean De Villiers says results are paramount from here on in and called for a team performance against the side they beat by just three points in their final pool game.
"This is the crunch time of the season for us,” said the South African, “this is the time we need to get the results. It didn't happen for us last week (against Leinster) and we need to learn from that and there is everything to play for."
"You want to build on your performance and it's no good having a good individual performance if the team aren't performing so we need a good team effort next Saturday."
"I'd like to go home knowing I gave it my all and I did the jersey proud, putting in a performance that's worthy of the Munster jersey. It's a great challenge and these are the situations you want to be in, playing top class rugby.”
Northampton’s Ireland international Neil Best believes the English side’s Pool One performances against Munster earlier in the competition prove the Saints have nothing to fear at Thomond Park.
Northampton triumphed 31-27 at Franklin’s Gardens before losing narrowly (12-9) in a match that was there for the taking in Limerick.
And Best, who could be joined in the Northampton back row by his former Ulster teammate Roger Wilson, is determined to go one better on Shannonside come the weekend.
“Roger and I have played there numerous times and I know none of our players will be daunted by going there in the quarter-finals,” said Best. “That last match gave us a lot of confidence and that is very encouraging as we prepare to go back for a huge game.
“The big thing is that we believe in ourselves wherever we are playing and know we could have won that match at Thomond in January. If I remember correctly the pivotal period was when Dylan (Hartley) charged down a box kick and we had to score from a scrum on their line.
“However, it ended up with them clearing their line and holding on for the win. Munster have such a great pedigree and history in the Heineken Cup and their player welfare now is such that players are rested ready for the big games — and this is one of the biggest when those who have had a bit of time off are back in the team.
“The atmosphere and hype surrounding matches at Thomond, the sea of red supporters and everyone talking about the game means it is just great to be part of it all and play at the ground.”
Munster squad (v Northampton): Forwards: Marcus Horan, Dave Ryan, Julien Brugnaut, John Hayes, Tony Buckley, Denis Fogarty, Damien Varley, Jerry Flannery, Donncha O'Callaghan, Paul O'Connell, Mick O'Driscoll, Alan Quinlan, Niall Ronan, David Wallace, Nick Williams, Billy Holland, James Coughlan. Backs: Tomas O'Leary, Peter Stringer, Ronan O'Gara, Paul Warwick, Jean De Villiers, Lifeimi Mafi, Tom Gleeson, Keith Earls, Ian Dowling, Doug Howlett, Scott Deasy