Trio return for Friday night lights

With a starting XV that virtually picks itself, and a relatively clean bill of health, Munster coach Tony McGahan sprang few surprises when naming his side to face Montauban tomorrow night.  As expected, Jerry Flannery, Lifeimi Mafi and Ian Dowling are back for the Heineken Cup curtain raiser under the lights at Thomond Park.

Keith Earls will make his European debut after a stellar start to the season while Denis Leamy's continued absence also affords Justin Melck his first appearance in the competition.

Peter Stringer will again provide cover at the base of the scrum as Tomas O'Leary remains sidelined with an ankle injury.

McGahan, who took the decision to leave Frankie Sheahan and Mick O'Driscoll out of the squad earlier in the week, is expecting a bruising encounter against the French newcomers.

""We haven't played against Montauban before but we have done a lot of analysis on them," he explained today.  "They have a strong and physical forward pack, pace in the outside backs and process a strong kicking game.

"Their consistent performances in the French Top 14 makes them fully deserving of a place in what is a very competitive pool alongside Clermont and Sale.  Our approach is the same for every game in showing the opposition full respect while making sure we control our impact and decision making in getting the right result.
 
"We have learned from our first game at Thomond Park last Saturday night and the condition we faced could be similar.  We have to be focused on our ball carry and ball protection otherwise like all good French sides they can score from anywhere."

Munster are strongly fancied to make it to Edinburgh, which stages its second final following an all-French affair between Toulouse and Stade Francais in 2005.

McGahan though, is concentrating purely and simply on Munster's qualifying pool, which also sees Clermont Auvergne and Sale Sharks alongside them on the starting grid.

He said: "History has shown that it is more difficult to defend the Heineken Cup than it is to win it in the first place. So far, only Leicester have managed back-to-win wins. And if you look any further forward than the group stages, then you do that at your peril."

Montauban, meanwhile, have named Scotland second row Scott Murray and Romanian prop Bogdan Balan in their side.

Munster:K Earls, D Howlett, R Tipoki, L Mafi,  I Dowling,  R O'Gara,  P Stringer  M Horan, J Flannery,  J Hayes  P O'Connell capt,  D O'Callaghan, A Quinlan,  D Wallace, J Melck. Replacements: D Fogarty, F Pucciariello, D Ryan, J O'Sullivan, M Prendergast, P Warwick, B Murphy,

Montauban: J Dalla Riva; S Jonnet, JP Viard, R Jahouer, J Cassin; R Lespinas, P Mitu; B Balan, B Mach, N Adams, S Murray, R Frost, Y Caballero, M Raynaud, M Clarkin. Replacements: C Traversa, L del Boulbes, S Florea, K Ghezal, A Battut, F Fortassin, J Laharrague.