O'Connell returns as Munster show intent

MAGNERS LEAGUE SQUAD NEWS:IN WHAT is likely to be a fairly heavyweight statement of health and intent, not only will Paul O'Connell return to an enlarged Munster squad when it is named today but so too, most likely, will David Wallace, Jerry Flannery, Ian Dowling, Niall Ronan and Paul Warwick.

O’Connell’s slight hamstring strain delayed his return for Munster’s bonus-point win over the Dragons at Musgrave Park last Sunday, but the Munster and Lions captain is expected to make his seasonal reappearance in the Magners League against Leinster on Saturday. The other aforementioned quintet are also expected to take a full part in training at the University of Limerick today before the squad is announced, as will Peter Stringer, although his strained calf muscle may be given more time to recover fully.

Dowling played the full 80 minutes in Munster’s A win over Ulster last Friday while Flannery played 40 minutes of Shannon’s friendly win over Galwegians and is mustard keen to play, although in the case of the former, Denis Hurley’s rejuvenation on the wing means he will take some shifting.

Given the need for his recuperating players to have some game time prior to their difficult opening Heineken Cup assignment in the Northampton fortress that is Franklin’s Gardens, Tony McGahan may well look to involve them as well as Wallace, Ronan and Warwick against Leinster. Thus, it could be that Nick Williams, despite his barnstorming hat-trick against the Dragons, might even miss out on the match-day 22 at the RDS in Dublin. Saturday’s game will be a sell-out with over 1,200 tickets returned from Munster having been snapped up by Leinster season-ticket holders within an hour of going on sale on Monday evening.

Due to a number of other events around the RDS this weekend, supporters are being encouraged to use public transport.

Simon Danielli has been left out of a 27-man squad for Ulster’s tie at home to the Scarlets on Friday night, as the unspecified injury he sustained against Connacht is still being assessed. Dan Tuohy has also been sidelined again, thereby joining Rory Best, David Pollock, Bryn Cunningham, Matt McCullough and Cillian Willis on the list of those currently deemed hors de combat.

With Stephen Ferris returning to the squad, Ryan Caldwell is also recalled after recovering from an ankle injury, as are Tamaiti Horua, Niall O’Connor, Mark McCrea, academy player Ian Porter and Bryan Young.

“We have a number of issues with players and we are just giving them as much time as possible before finalising our team,” admitted coach Brian McLaughlin yesterday. “We were able to rest a player or two last week.

“We were extremely disappointed with the way things went against Edinburgh. And yes, the players all want to win at home on Friday night. But we want to continue building and making further progress. We are starting to play good, strong rugby, but we have a bit of distance to go yet. There are still improvements to be made and skills to be perfected, but we will continue to work and improve.

“I know we can win on Friday night if we continue to perform the way we have,” he added. “We are coming into this game on the back of a good away win and we now want to show what we can do in front of our home fans.”

Connacht have been given a boost with centre Niva Ta’auso being declared fit to play against Newport Gwent Dragons on Saturday. The 29-year-old Samoan fractured his left hand during the opening game of the season against the Ospreys. “It is a big boost having Niva back and it gives us a number of options,” said Connacht coach Michael Bradley.

However, Connacht will be without flanker Ray Ofisa who is out with a bout of sickness and Robbie Morris who has been given a three-week suspension following a disciplinary hearing last evening. Morris had been cited for an alleged strike on Ulster player TJ Anderson in the 65th minute of the Magners League game last Friday. The player has the right to appeal this decision.

Meanwhile, the 20th AIB League season, complete with its new two-tiered Division One format, begins on Friday night with a floodlit derby between old rivals Garryowen and holders Shannon at Dooradoyle.

Also in Division One A on Saturday, there are two more derbies, between St Mary’s and Clontarf and the Cork clash of Dolphin and Cork Constitution.

LEINSTER SQUAD: (forwards) Leo Cullen, John Fogarty, Cian Healy, Jamie Heaslip, Nathan Hines, Bernard Jackman, Shane Jennings, Stephen Keogh, Ronan McCormack, Kevin McLaughlin, Sean OBrien, Malcolm OKelly, Mike Ross, Devin Toner, Stan Wright. (Backs) Shaun Berne, Gordon DArcy, Girvan Dempsey, Luke Fitzgerald, Shane Horgan, Chris Keane, Rob Kearney, Simon Keogh, Fergus McFadden, Isa Nacewa, Brian ODriscoll, Eoin Reddan, Jonathan Sexton.

ULSTER SQUAD: (forwards) Nigel Brady, Brendon Botha, Bryan Young, Ed ODonoghue, Andy Kyriacou, Chris Henry, Stephen Ferris, Willie Faloon, Thomas Anderson, Neil McComb, Tom Court, Declan Fitzpatrick, Ryan Caldwell, Tamaiti Horua, Robbie Diack. (Backs) Timoci Nagusa, Darren Cave, Andrew Trimble, Ian Whitten, Paul Marshall, Isaac Boss, Ian Humphreys, Paddy Wallace, Clinton Schifcofske, Ian Porter, Niall OConnor, Mark McCrea.

CONNACHT SQUAD: Liam Bibo, Andrew Browne, Fionn Carr, Sean Cronin, Gavin Duffy, Adrian Flavin, Jamie Hagan, Conor Higgins, Ian Keatley, Ronan Loughney, Keith Matthews, Mike McCarthy, Mike McComish, John Muldoon, Dermot Murphy, Frank Murphy, Troy Nathan, Mike Nikora, Johnny O'Connor, Conor O'Loughlin, Michael Swift, Niva Ta'auso, Brian Tuohy, Bernie Upton, Brett Wilkinson, Aidan Wynne.