HEINEKEN CUP MUNSTER v NORTHAMPTON:PAUL O'CONNELL and Keith Earls are included in Munster's 28-man squad to take on Northampton in the Heineken Cup quarter-final on Saturday, and though the pair sat out training yesterday, the indications are both will have recovered in time to take their places in the starting XV.
O’Connell has not trained fully since injuring his groin against Scotland in Ireland’s final Six Nations game, but is expected to participate fully in tomorrow’s squad session in Limerick.
The information regarding Earls was less clear, though it seems certain he will line out alongside Jean de Villiers in the Munster midfield providing he overcomes his groin strain.
Head coach Tony McGahan said he was optimistic both would be available, commenting: “The squad has been announced. There are 28 in it, so we’re looking for everyone inside that 28 to be fit to take part.”
The return of O’Connell, in particular, seems critical to Munster’s chances of progression. While the scrum and lineout functioned reasonably well in his absence against Leinster last weekend, it’s accepted Munster are a different prospect with their skipper at the helm.
When asked about O’Connell’s importance to the team, McGahan was unequivocal.
“Well, it’s unfair (to say) that we can’t play without him . . . but I think any side that he’s in is always going to be poorer for him not being a part of it – whether that’s the Lions, the Irish national side or Munster, or even Young Munster.
“He’s built that reputation, that’s what great players do, because when they play they lift the other players around them to play to a level that maybe they can’t get to.
“We have a number of players like that – Ronan O’Gara is like that, Alan Quinlan is a leader on the pitch. We have a number of players who fit that mould. We’re a better team with Doug Howlett out there playing as well.
“But Paul, there’s no doubt, we’re a better team when he’s out there on the pitch.”
McGahan also played down suggestions O’Connell has not been performing to his usual standards since coming back from the Lions tour last summer, a theory which seemed to grow in momentum during Ireland’s Six Nations campaign.
He conceded that O’Connell’s exertions had taken a lot out of him, both mentally and physically, but advised looking beyond the obvious when trying to analyse his captain’s form.
“It doesn’t have to be crashing runs and crashing tackles,” said McGahan, “there are so many other components that make up a full performance.
“It might be communication, it might be work off the ball, it might be your lineout calling or your defensive lineout. It doesn’t need to be stand-out moments that catch the eye; it’s all-encompassing play, and in that regard I think he’s been very good.”
As for O’Connell himself, he maintains he is feeling good and has enjoyed the benefits of going three weeks without starting a match. For him, the prospect of English opposition arriving to Thomond Park for the quarter- final of the Heineken Cup means that this week is the biggest of Munster’s season.
“We build so much of our year around the Heineken Cup and, particularly after the disappointment of Ireland, it’s been great to come back here and be in the Munster set-up again,” he said.
“Obviously then when you realise you’re playing in Limerick, you’re playing in Thomond Park against an English team, the importance of it increases again.”
O’Connell agrees that there is little to separate them and Northampton, a idea borne out by the combined score differential between the sides after two Heineken Cup meetings – a single point.
It’s no secret Jim Mallinder’s men will travel to Limerick in confident mood, but O’Connell believes Munster are well placed to come out on top, providing they get the basics right.
“Our lineout struggled at times against Northampton in that first game,” he says. “But our set-piece was excellent at the weekend and hopefully we’ll continue (to improve).
“I think in the first game over there we struggled at the breakdown, but we had a big improvement in the second game, so those are the two important things – the set-piece and the breakdown. If we can put together good performances in both those areas and couple that with a good kicking game, then we’ll be a long way towards achieving what we want to achieve.”
MUNSTER (squad v Northampton, Thomond Park, Saturday, 5.30pm):Forwards: M Horan, D Ryan, J Brugnaut, J Hayes, T Buckley, D Fogarty, D Varley, J Flannery, D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell, M O'Driscoll, A Quinlan, N Ronan, D Wallace, N Williams, B Holland, J Coughlan. Backs: T O'Leary, P Stringer, R O'Gara, P Warwick, J de Villiers, L Mafi, T Gleeson, K Earls, I Dowling, D Howlett, S Deasy.
