McPhail starts for Munster Rugby

CELTIC LEAGUE: Martin McPhail, who replaced Dominic Crotty at full back in Hughenden last week, makes his first Celtic League appearance in a Munster starting team, on the wing, against Ulster at Musgrave Park tomorrow night.

McPhail takes his place alongside centres Mike Mullins and Jason Jones-Hughes, with Mossie Lawlor on the other flank. An injury to Crotty allows Shaun Payne to take over at full back. Crotty is named on the bench.

Munster coach Alan Gaffney makes just one change to the forward unit that started against Glasgow last time out with Martin Cahill coming back into the front row. The prop had been out with a broken finger.

"It's going to be tough, especially up front," Gaffney said. "Games between Munster and Ulster are always tense, tight affairs. Both sides like to spread the ball wide and at the moment they are playing impressively. So once again we're up against it but it's another challenge and we like nothing better than a challenge."

Gaffney was awaiting news on a knee injury to scrumhalf Mike Prendergast who was injured in a club game at the weekend and the prospects of a speedy return to action are unlikely.

"It looks like a longer rather than short-term injury. I'm really disappointed for the player who worked hard to get back from a shoulder injury and for this to happen to him now is just terrible," said Gaffney.

Leinster make one change for their trip to Cardiff. Gordon D'Arcy, who is a back-up for the World Cup squad, has a bruised cheekbone and has been sidelined for the away trip as a precaution. James Norton comes in at 15. Prop John Lyne was considered a doubt earlier in the week but has recovering following physiotherapy on a bruised shoulder as Leinster seek to end their run of defeats.

MUNSTER (v Ulster): S Payne: M McPail, M Mullins, Jones-Hughes, M Lawlor, J Staunton, E Reddan, S Kerr, J Flannery, M Cahill, T Hogan, D Pusey, S Keogh, D Wallace,J Williams (capt). Replacements: D Crotty, C O'Sullivan, F Murphy, C McMahon, E Halvey, J Danagher, F Roche.

LEINSTER (v Cardiff): J Norton; J McWeeney, G Brown, D Quinlan, B Burke; M Leek, B O'Riordan; J Lyne, G Hickie, E Byrne, L Cullen (capt), B Gissing, A McCullen, S Jennings, D Dillon. Replacements: P Coyle, D Blaney, A Kearney, N Breslin, B O'Meara, J Downey, D O'Shea.