O'Callagahan out of Gloucester clash

Munster coach Alan Gaffney has been forced into making one change for Saturday's Heineken Cup opener away to Zurich Premiership…

Munster coach Alan Gaffney has been forced into making one change for Saturday's Heineken Cup opener away to Zurich Premiership leaders Gloucester.

Last year's beaten finalists will be without the services of Donncha O'Callagahan after the versatile young lock fractured his jaw against Neath last weekend. Heineken Cup veteran Mick Galwey returns to the fray in O'Callaghan's absence with Eddie Halvey earning a call-up to the replacements bench.

"Donncha took a blow to the jaw and has sustained a fracture which isn't as bad as we first feared," explained Gaffney.

Besides the loss of O'Callaghan, the Munster line-up is unchanged. John Kelly, an injury concern earlier in the week, has recovered from the knock he picked up during the 35-19 victory in Wales, and Gaffney expects a tough encounter at Kingsholm with a Gloucester side unbeaten in eight outings.

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"This is a real good Gloucester outfit," he said. "A physical side and I mean that in the positive sense, with loads of pace both up front and out wide. They've the same passionate support that Munster enjoy at home and right now they're on a roll.

"Yes it's going to be tough, but I'm really looking forward to it and I know the boys are too. I'm quite happy about where we are as a squad right now. And that's what it's all about being a squad. We'll win together, we lose together, we'll compete together, we'll enjoy ourselves together."

Munster: 15. Jeremy Staunton 14. John Kelly 13. Mike Mullins. 12. Rob Henderson. 11. Mossie Lawlor. 10. Ronan O'Gara. 9. Peter Stringer. 1. Marcus Horan. 2. Frank Sheahan. 3. John Hayes. 4. Mick Galwey. 5. Mick O'Driscoll. 6. Jim Williams capt 7. Alan Quinlan. 8. Anthony Foley.

Replacements. Simon Kerr, James Blaney, Eddie Halvey, Denis Leamy. Mike Prendergast, Jason Holland, Dominic Crotty