Celtic League: The former All Black and New Zealand record try scorer Christian Cullen will arrive in Ireland this weekend and, subject to a medical, will begin his career with Munster next week.
With 46 international tries Cullen is also third on the world list of all-time try scorers and leaves Super 12 side Wellington to join up with Munster coach, Alan Gaffney, following a personality clash with national coach John Mitchell.
Cullen was an astonishing omission from the New Zealand squad for the World Cup, with his contract with the governing body NZR expiring after the 2003 season, which finished last week.
Just where Gaffney will play Cullen is unknown, although as the most capped full back to play for New Zealand, his strongest position is at 15, although he has also played on the wing. The 27-year-old will join a side placed seventh in the Celtic league and one that will probably welcome Martin Cahill back into the front row this weekend as the side faces Edinburgh in Meadowbank.
Having played for Buccaneers against UCD last Saturday, Cahill appears fit, while James Blaney, who did not line out for his club Shannon, remains doubtful. Jeremy Staunton is a concern, having taken heavy knocks against Celtic Warriors, while second row David Pusey remains on the injury list.
Leinster, having lost their first four league games before embarking on a three-match winning streak, line out against Llanelli on Saturday with winger John McWeeney and hooker Gavin Hickie, late withdrawals last week, back in the side.
Coach Gary Ella is also able to call on Christian Warner, who has been missing for several weeks with a neck strain, to partner David Quinlan in the centre. With last week's outside centre James Downey on the injured list for another week, Warner comes in at 13, with Peter McKenna stepping down for McWeeney and Gary Brown again on the other wing.
Third-placed Connacht play current league leaders Ulster on Saturday before their Celtic Cup semi-final against Edinburgh on November 14th. Ulster, who lose left wing Tyrone Howe to the Irish World Cup squad for the injured Denis Hickie, report no injuries following their one-sided 32-7 win over Cardiff at Ravenhill last week in their sixth league win and will select their team today.
Michael Bradley, keeping with his policy of rotation, has made seven changes to the Connacht side that beat Neath-Swansea Ospreys at St Helens. Mark McHugh returns at full back, with Darren Yapp back from injury to the centre and Matt Mostyn switching to the right wing.
Conor McPhillips is recalled on the left wing. In the front row Ray Hogan returns to loosehead, with Andrew Farley partnering Mike McCarthy in the second row. Two changes in the back row bring Michael Swift and John O'Sullivan in to join Paul Neville. Peter Bracken, Warren O'Kelly, Marnus Uijs, Shane Moore and Matt Lacey are out injured.
CONNACHT (v Ulster): M McHugh; M Mostyn, D Yapp, T Allnutt, C McPhillips; E Elwood, M Walls; R Hogan, B Jackman, A Clarke; M McCarthy, A Farley; M Swift, P Neville, J O'Sullivan. Replacements: J Fogarty, F Boiroux, D Browne, T Carter, C O'Loughlin, D Hewitt, W Munn.
LEINSTER (v Llanelli): G D'Arcy; J McWeeney, C Warner, D Quinlan, G Brown; M Leek, B O'Meara; E Byrne, G Hickie, N Treston, A Kearney, B Gissing, N Breslin, S Jennings, D Dillon. Replacements: P Coyle, D Blaney, C Potts, N Ronan, S Whelan, P McKenna, D O'Shea.
