Dragons v Munster Rodney Parade, 7.10Munster coach Declan Kidney is wrestling with a number of injury concerns ahead of tonight's game against the Dragons, the most pressing of which is a calf injury sustained by loosehead prop Marcus Horan. The Shannon man suffered the damage in training and is considered doubtful for the Heineken European Cup semi-final against Leinster at Lansdowne Road on Sunday week.
He will definitely miss not alone tonight's game against the Dragons but Munster's next game in the Celtic League against Edinburgh at Thomond Park. His absence would be a huge blow to Munster but Kidney will be hoping rest and intensive treatment will sort out the problem. Federico Pucciariello deputises.
Christian Cullen's rehabilitation suffered another setback and he misses this weekend's game having tweaked a hamstring in training. He played a couple of minutes in the recent European Cup win over Perpignan.
Ronan O'Gara and Denis Leamy, who started against the French side, don't make the journey to Wales for the Dragons game, the former sustaining a gash under his knee the last day, which requires rest. Leamy, who went into the Perpignan game with a damaged ankle, sustained a leg injury in the match but should be available for selection against Edinburgh.
Replacement hooker Denis Fogarty also misses tonight's game with a hand injury. Jeremy Manning replaces O'Gara at outhalf, Pucciariello is on for Horan while Mick O'Driscoll will start at blindside flanker as Kidney is forced into three changes from the Perpignan match. The Munster coach pointed out: "We'll know a bit more about the injuries next week but right now we have to focus on the game ahead. It's hugely important in terms of the Celtic League and our ambitions in that for this season and in turn because of how it affects us next season.
"We are looking to get back on track after two (Celtic League) defeats but know this (Rodney Parade) is a very difficult place to get a result."
It will be the teams' fourth meeting of the season with Munster prevailing twice in the European Cup and when the teams met at Musgrave Park in the Celtic League earlier in the season.
The Dragons make four alterations to the team beaten by Ulster last time out. Wing Gareth Wyatt has recovered from a stress fracture to his shin with Nathan Brew moving to the other wing. Richard Fussell drops out. Welsh internationals Ian Gough and Michael Owen return for Andrew Hall and Rhys Oakley respectively while Luke Charteris is making his first start this year having recovered from a shoulder injury.
The Dragons are chasing a European spot and have been good at home this season but Munster's desire will be equally strong as they chase leaders Ulster, aware they can not afford to make it three defeats in succession.
DRAGONS: A Thomas; G Wyatt, H Luscombe, C Sweeney, N Brew; C Warlow, G Baber; A Black, S Jones, R Thomas; I Gough, L Charteris; J Ringer, J Forster (capt), M Owen. Replacements: A Brown, D Maddocks, C Anthony, P Sidoli, R Oakley, J Bryant, J Ireland.
MUNSTER: S Payne; J Kelly, T O'Leary, T Halstead, I Dowling; J Manning, P Stringer; F Pucciariello, J Flannery, J Hayes; D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell; M O'Driscoll, D Wallace, A Foley (capt). Replacements: F Roche, E McGovern, S Keogh, J O'Sullivan, P Burke, M Mullins, R Henderson.
Referee: Peter Allan (Scotland).
Recent meetings: March 2004 (CL) at Thomond Park: Munster 6 Newport Gwent Dragons 16; November 2004 (CL) at Musgrave Park: Munster 25 Newport Gwent Dragons 16; March 2005 (CL) at Rodney Parade: Newport Gwent Dragons 8 Munster 24; December 2005 (EC) at Rodney Parade: Newport Gwent Dragons 8 Munster 24; December 2005 (EC) at Thomond Park: Munster 30 Newport Gwent Dragons 18; January 2006 (CL) at Musgrave Park: Munster 10 Newport Gwent Dragons 8.
Leading points scorers: Dragons - Craig Warlow 87. Munster - Ronan O'Gara 71.
Leading try scorers: Dragons - Jason Forster 6. Munster - Anthony Horgan 4.
Verdict: Munster to win.
