CELTIC LEAGUE NEWS: Munster and Leinster have named strong teams, on paper at any rate, for their competitive seasonal openers in this weekend's first series of Celtic League games.
Notionally at full-strength barring long-term injuries, though without much preparation, it's also clear the selections have been influenced by the Irish management, as these are the Irish squad's only matches before Saturday week's Test against Romania.
All 16 of the Munster and Leinster players named in the Irish 22 have been picked to play in their nominal Irish positions. Hence, Rob Henderson will start at inside centre with Mike Mullins in the Munster midfield away to Llanelli on Saturday night, with Jason Holland relegated to the bench.
Despite the arrival of Henderson last season Holland started in all bar two of Munster's matches. In a sense the needs of the Irish management have helped to resolve a tricky one for Alan Gaffney in his first team selection from full-strength, allowing for the injuries to Paul O'Connell, David Wallace, Anthony Horgan and Martin Cahill.
Elsewhere, Gaffney has retained Dominic Crotty ahead of Jeremy Staunton at full back, John O'Neill returns from injury to compensate for Horgan's absence, Marcus Horan kicks off the post-Peter Clohessy era, Mick O'Driscoll and Donnacha O'Callaghan form the second-row, while Jim Williams and Alan Quinlan flank Irish number eight Anthony Foley, leaving Mick Galwey and Eddie Halvey with Dominic Malone, Staunton and Holland on a high profile replacements' bench.
Similarly Leinster will have all 10 of their Irish squad members in their starting line-up to play Pontypridd at Donnybrook tomorrow night, with all bar Victor Costello of the pack on duty against Romania.
Coach Matt Williams admitted it wasn't a particularly long selection meeting, with the most pressing issue being "who we brought in at 10 and 12". With Shane Horgan ruled out, Williams has picked Andy Dunne for his first competitive start since November last year at outhalf, with Christian Warner at inside centre.
"Christian played a lot for me at New South Wales and he's an experienced player. He's a 10 who can play 12. Dave Quinlan has been playing well and in other games might have got the nod."
Though he's not committed to giving Dunne an extended run, Williams stressed the talented young outhalf was not on trial.
Flanked by the Celtic League and interprovincial trophies they won last season, Williams repeated his assertion there hasn't been any complacency this season. He relayed the story he'd told his players in pre-season of the Australian world cycle pursuit champions who vowed to retain their title and accordingly followed the same training methods and preparation the following year - only to finish fourth.
"What we did last year doesn't mean anything this year. No one's mentioned it (retaining the trophy) and if anything there's been an anxiety in training and we've talked about relaxing."
Pontypridd have also sent a strong selection to the Leinster Branch for the purposes of the match programme. It features the five forwards (Mefin Davies, Gethin Jenkins, Robert Sidoli, Michael Owen and Richard Parks) who broke into the Welsh set-up for the summer tour to South Africa. However, coach Lynn Howells yesterday revealed Neil Jenkins, three weeks ahead of his expected comeback following a broken metatarsal, will have a fitness test today and could yet travel as part of their 22.
LEINSTER LIONS (v Pontypridd, Friday, Donnybrook 7:35): G Dempsey; D Hickie, B O'Driscoll, C Warner, G D'Arcy; A Dunne, B O'Meara; R Corrigan (capt), S Byrne, P Wallace, L Cullen, M O'Kelly, E Miller, V Costello, K Gleeson. Replacements: N Treston, P Smyth, D Dillon, A McCullen, B Willis, D Quinlan, P McKenna.
MUNSTER (v Llanelli, Saturday, Stradey Park 7.05): D Crotty; J Kelly, M Mullins, R Henderson, J O'Neill; R O'Gara, P Stringer; M Horan, F Sheahan, J Hayes, M O'Driscoll, D O'Callaghan, J Williams, A Foley, A Quinlan. Replacements: J Blaney, S Kerr, M Galwey, E Halvey, D Malone, J Staunton, J Holland.
PONTYPRIDD: B Davey; G Wyatt, J Lewis, J Bryant, M Nuthall; C Sweeney, G Baber; G Jenkins, M Davies (capt), D Bell, R Sidoli, M Owen, D McIntosh, G Lewis, R Parks. Replacements: M Rees, N Hennessy, B Cockbain, W O'Connor, P John, S James, R Johnston.
