Bumps and bruises dictated that Munster coach Declan Kidney could not name his starting XV for Friday night's Guinness Interprovincial clash with Ulster at Musgrave Park. He must await fitness reports not only on Peter Clohessy but also Keith Wood, before deciding on the composition of the front row.
Marcus Horan will deputise if Clohessy fails to recover from a back injury while Cork Constitution's Frankie Sheahan is poised to take over from Wood who damaged a hamstring in training yesterday. The only other area of uncertainty is who will line out at scrum-half. Tom Tierney, Brian O'Meara and Peter Stringer vie for the number nine jersey with training ground form the ultimate arbiter.
David Corkery (back trouble), Anthony Horgan (groin injury) and Cian Mahony (lack of matches) were not considered for selection. The replacements will be decided later in the week. Ulster in contrast have no injury problems and will announce their team this morning.
Connacht coach Glenn Ross makes two changes and a positional switch from the team beaten by Leinster at Donnybrook for Saturday's clash against the same opponents in the Sportsground, Galway.
Steve McIvor replaces the luckless Conor McGuinness at scrum-half while Colm Rigney is preferred to Barry Gavin, Rigney filling the blindside role with Martin Steffert switching to number eight. Ross conceded that his preparations have been somewhat fragmented due to the World Cup but was more positive following a recent game against Sale in Manchester.
"That was very beneficial but I am still looking for a gradual improvement. We started the season badly but I believe that there were reasons for that. Since then we have made progress especially in the wake of the game against Ireland. We came very close to winning in the game against Leinster at Donnybrook but we need to improve once again from that.
"If you look at Leinster they have very good resources, I have watched their under-21s play over the past month and there is some very good talent around. We are not as fortunate, we do not have the resources. They (Leinster) were probably lacking a little confidence the last day. We are under no illusions about the task ahead.
"We are up against a very good side and will have to be at our best. I think we have the self belief to take our game to the opposition." Ross confirmed that he was still in the process of filling four contracts and suggested that there might be some development over the next fortnight.
Leinster will announce their side today. Full-back Girvan Dempsey is still sidelined with the shoulder injury that forced him to withdraw from Ireland's World Cup squad. Trevor Brennan is doubtful with a damaged shoulder but captain Denis Hickie is available for selection having recovered from an ankle injury.
CONNACHT: S Allnutt; M Mostyn, M Murphy, M Deane, P Duignan; E Elwood, S McIvor; J Maher, S McDonald, M Cahill; M McConnell, G Webster; C Rigney, M Steffert, E Brennan. Replacements: J McVeigh, J Screene, B Gavin, B Jackman, D Mescal, O Cobbe, N Carolan.
MUNSTER: D Crotty; J O'Neill, K Keane, M Mullins, J Kelly; R O'Gara, (T Tierney or B O'Meara or P Stringer); P Clohessy or M Horan, K Wood or F Sheahan, J Hayes; J Langford, M Galwey; A Quinlan, A Foley, D Wallace. Replacements to be announced.
