Forwards left with big boots to fill

The relatively limited options at the disposal of Declan Kidney in the absence of long-term absentees Paul O'Connell and Alan Quinlan were highlighted yesterday in his initial squad selection for Saturday's Heineken European Cup game away to Llanelli.

The Munster coach added the fit-again Brian Carney, John Kelly, Anthony Horgan and Federico Pucciarello to the 22 who were on duty in the 10-3 defeat to Leinster last Friday for a game which could well define their season.

Munster packs have always had leaders cum rallying figures in latter times, but with Mick Galwey long since retired and Anthony Foley reduced to a peripheral role, the absence of O'Connell and Quinlan - who had been Munster's best player this season - left the Munster pack without a "follow me" leader- from-the-front, ball-carrying, big- hitting figure against Leinster.

In the circumstances, it was a surprise that Foley, who holds the record for European Cup appearances (81), was not sprung from the bench in the final quarter at Musgrave Park last Friday in conditions that looked tailor-made for his experience.Barring his recall, a few of the other Munster forwards will have to step up to the plate.

"You have to look for the positives from the game," said Kidney yesterday in reference to the Leinster defeat. "We've worked very hard on that this week and one of the good things about last Friday's game is that Leinster are not unlike Llanelli in the way they play, and you always like to think that you learn more from defeat than victory."

Maintaining that Munster's morale has "not for a minute" been damaged by the Leinster defeat, and having commended his players for their response in training, Kidney rejected any notion that Llanelli might be less than 100 per cent committed in light of their opening two European Cup defeats to Clermont and Wasps.

"If the shoe were on the other foot, if we had lost our first two games and you asked me that question I would totally disagree. In many ways, it makes Llanelli even more dangerous because they can play without a huge degree of pressure in the circumstances.

"If we were to get a win out of Stradey on Saturday it would be a great achievement, as good as anything we've achieved in Europe to date."

To commemorate the revamped Thomond Park, Munster have announced they will be creating a new walkway in front of the East Stand that will be paved with bricks engraved with personal messages from Munster supporters and players, to be known as The Munster Walk, An Cosán Muimhneach.

Ulster caretaker coach Steve Williams has named a 25-man squad for Friday's fixture away to the Ospreys, pending the team announcement tomorrow.

Bryn Cunningham, academy player Mark McCrea, hooker Matt Miles and Justin Harrison have all been recalled. Harrison played for the Barbarians against South Africa, but has yet to feature since Mark McCall's departure, amid rumours of a rift with Williams when the latter was the assistant/forwards' coach.

"Again, like everything else we have to pick the team for the different oppositions and the challenges they will present," said Williams yesterday. "We need to be streetwise against the Ospreys and we are well aware of the threats that they bring to the game. They are a stellar squad with fantastic players and it will be interesting to play against a team of their calibre."

Roger Wilson has joined fellow backrowers Stephen Ferris and Neil McMillan on the injured list after picking up a thumb injury against Edinburgh. Wilson is expected to be out of action for between six to eight weeks while David Humphreys is also still unavailable with an ankle injury.

Connacht coach Michael Bradley paid tribute to his side for the way they carved out last Friday's 10-6 win over Glasgow in advance of Friday's all-ticket Challenge Cup game against Newcastle Falcons.

"We were disappointed with the way the Ulster match had gone the previous week so it was important to get the victory this time. Perhaps what was more important was the standard of the performance, often in very trying conditions."

He also paid tribute to the crowd of almost 1,200 who turned out in force on an appalling night. "You could see at the end of the game the reaction from both the supporters and the players that they enjoyed the contest and the reward of the win," he said.

The win also eased the pressure on Bradley after growing unrest in the west over a run of just five wins in 30 games.

"We understand that the season ahead is very difficult and the teams we're going to be playing against in nearly all cases will be favourites against us, but if we perform like that we'll be very difficult to break down and we should get our fair share of victories," added Bradley.

MUNSTER SQUAD: S Payne; B Carney, K Lewis, R Tipoki, L Mafi, I Dowling, J Kelly, A Horgan, R O'Gara, P Stringer, B Murphy, P Warwick, G Hurley; M Horan, F Pucciarello, J Flannery, F Sheahan, J Hayes, T Buckley, D O'Callaghan, M O'Driscoll, D Ryan, D Wallace, D Leamy, A Foley, J Coughlan.

ULSTER SQUAD: M Bartholomeusz; S Danielli, B Cunningham, M McCrea, T Bowe, A Trimble, R Dewey, P Steinmetz, N O'Connor, P Wallace, I Boss, K Campbell; J Fitzpatrick; B Young, D Fitzpatrick, M Miles, R Best, N Brady, J Harrison, R Caldwell, C Del Fava, M McCullough, N Best, K Dawson, D Pollock.