Flannery back in business

RUGBY:AFTER A disastrous 2010, Jerry Flannery looks set to kick off the New Year on a bright note after he was included in Munster's squad for tomorrow's Magners League derby against Ulster at Thomond Park.

The 32-year-old hooker has started less than a handful of games for his province over the past 12 months with injury taking an unwelcome grip on his career.

His last appearance in red lasted only 23 minutes when he broke down during his comeback against Toulon on October 16th.

A persistent calf problem has been his biggest grievance this season but he came through 40 minutes for Shannon on Tuesday without any ill-effects.

Following that, he headed to Dublin for a two-day Ireland camp for forwards and scrumhalves and now looks likely to feature off the bench against Ulster tomorrow.

“We’d certainly like to integrate him as soon as possible,” said head coach Tony McGahan.

“Jerry is a super professional. He’s extremely driven and he’s certainly a huge driving force behind the forward pack.

“He’s a real follow-me type of player and over the last few years he has certainly added to his leadership credentials.

“He got through 40 minutes on Tuesday with Shannon so we’ll see how he pulls up after the Irish camp and then make a decision.”

There was more good news for McGahan yesterday with confirmation that Alan Quinlan’s elbow dislocation appears to be a relatively straight-forward injury.

There was no additional ligament damage and the injury is not deemed to be career-threatening, as was initially feared when he fell to the ground midway during Munster’ 16-12 victory over Connacht on Monday night.

The club are resigned to being without the 36-year-old flanker for eight weeks, however, a point lamented by McGahan who is also without fellow backrower James Coughlan, who will see a specialist next week to assist his recovery from a jaw injury.

McGahan said: “Alan is a loss. He’s been playing well this season and has forced his way back into the 23 with some game time recently, but now that has been taken away from him. It’s a big loss but we have some good depth there and we have to make sure we use it. We have a lot of faith in the players that are there.”

Elsewhere on the injury front, any lingering suggestions that Munster had used underhand tactics to see out their win against Connacht on Monday were put to bed when it was confirmed that prop forward Dave Ryan will be out of action for several weeks with a shoulder injury.

Controversy raged during the post-match press conference when Connacht coach Eric Elwood questioned the veracity of a late injury replacement in the Munster frontrow as they sought to avoid the concession of a pushover try.

Ryan – a tactical substitution for Wian du Preez in the 72nd minute – was called ashore in injury time to allow for the return of du Preez who helped stabilise their ailing scrum and avert the danger.

Ryan’s absence in Munster’s 28-man panel rules out the notion of unsporting behaviour. Also absent from the squad are Ronan O’Gara, Donncha O’Callaghan and David Wallace, all rested as part of the IRFU Player Welfare Scheme.

Doug Howlett, who was dropped for the Connacht match, is welcomed back into the mix.

MUNSTER SQUAD (v Ulster): W du Preez, D Hurley, P Borlase, T Buckley, J Hayes, D Varley, J Flannery, M Sherry, I Nagle, M O’Driscoll, D Ryan, B Holland, N Ronan, T O’Donnell, D Leamy, P Butler, P Warwick, S Deasy, B Murphy, L Mafi, T Gleeson, D Howlett, D Hurley, K Earls, S Tuitupou, P Stringer, T O’Leary, C Murray.

TODAY’S FIXTURES – Aironi Rugby v Benetton Treviso, 1.30; Cardiff Blues v Ospreys, 2.05.