O'Gara expected to be fit for Sale clash

RUGBY:CONCERNS OVER two key Munster players, Ronan O'Gara and Rua Tipoki, have been clarified after both men were withdrawn in the first half of the comprehensive 37-11 defeat to Ulster on Saturday night at Thomond Park - Munster's first defeat to an Irish province in Limerick since Leinster's victory in December 1995.

O'Gara was immediately replaced by Paul Warwick on 15 minutes after feeling a hamstring twinge and while he is a major doubt for the top-of-the-table Magners League clash away to the Ospreys on Friday, the Irish outhalf is expected to return for the vital Heineken European Cup visit of the Sale Sharks on January 16th.

Tipoki had just recovered from a knee injury sustained against the All Blacks in November and he seemed to clash with Peter Stringer as both men attempted to stop winger Mark McCrea accelerating clear for Ulster's third try just before half-time.

However, the Munster camp stated yesterday he also picked up a hamstring strain and is ruled out for four weeks, therefore, missing the conclusion of the European Pool matches.

Munster coach Tony McGahan did confirm that Paul O'Connell is struggling with a knee injury but, along with Denis Leamy (shoulder rehab) and Tomás O'Leary, the captain could feature over in Swansea.

McGahan was asked after the Ulster defeat if his exclusion of several frontline players for Magners League action is an error.

"We've got to manage guys through a long season, and we're working closely with the national management to make sure that the players that we have are able to be filtered through the whole season. They're there to play through autumn, Six Nations, Heineken and the Magners - we've got an obligation to the players to make sure that they can hang on and play through a whole season and getting them through February so they're not busted for the rest of the year.

"We're confident in the squad that we've got and we're certainly giving guys opportunities to play. The players are working hard, the squad believes in itself and we need to go forward from there."

Flanker James Coughlan damaged a shoulder when coming on as a replacement against Ulster and is also ruled out for four weeks.

Meanwhile, London Wasps' ticket sales for the January 17th match against Leinster at Twickenham have broken the 20,000 barrier. Considering a strong Leinster fan base is expected to travel over to London, and considering the high stakes, the fixture has the potential to reach the stadium's 82,000 capacity.