Munster v Perpignan:Munster's pack will be bolstered by the return of a certain Paul O'Connell when Perpignan arrive in Limerick later this week. O'Connell has recovered from injury and was named in coach Tony McGahan's initial selection this afternoon.
The inspirational Munster captain had been due to play against the Ospreys last weekend but was ruled out at the 11th hour having picked up a calf strain. But the second row will line out against the French outfit on Friday night in a match the the province can ill-afford to lose.
Perpignan, who trail Munster by a single point in Pool One, arrive in Limerick on the back of a 29-3 rout of Montpellier in the French Top 14 while Munster’s recent form has been decidedly patchy.
"Our form is probably a bit of a concern,” conceded O’Connell this afternoon. “We'd rather be playing great rugby, rather be flying along in the Magners League. I suppose we've struggled a little bit. We've had injuries.
“I suppose that was our big strength last year in that it didn't matter who pulled on the jersey we performed. And that's something we need to look at and something we need to get right.”
As for the notion that French sides don’t travel particularly well, it isn’t a theory that O'Connell subscribes to.
"Clermont showed up with all guns blazing when we played them here last year and we were lucky to get away with a win,” he said. “The final is on in Paris this year. Perpignan are the French champions. They're a real strong force in French rugby I've no doubt they'll be here with a strong team on Friday night. They've everything to play for.”
O’Connell will be joined in the Munster engine room by David Wallace, Denis Leamy and Jerry Flannery - who all missed the Magners League defeat at the Liberty Stadium last time out having picked up knocks in Ireland’s international campaign.
Darragh Hurley is also back in the fold and while Marcus Horan may miss the back-to-back meetings with Perpginan the Ireland prop was able to take a limited part in training at Thomond Park this morning.
Munster squad
Forwards:Wian Du Preez, Darragh Hurley, Tony Buckley, John Hayes, Denis Fogarty, Damien Varley, Jerry Flannery, Donncha O Callaghan, Donnacha Ryan, Paul O'Connell, Mick O'Driscoll, Alan Quinlan, Niall Ronan, David Wallace, Denis Leamy.
Backs:James Coughlan, Peter Stringer, Tomas O'Leary, Ronan O'Gara, Paul Warwick, Lifeimi Mafi, Jean De Villiers, Keith Earls, Ian Dowling, Doug Howlett, Denis Hurley, Felix Jones
