O'Leary's return to fitness a major boost for Munster

MAGNERS LEAGUE Scarlets v Munster: DECLAN KIDNEY outlined in his briefing at the start of the season that he had three players lined up for each Irish position. This week the Ireland coach should feel more optimistic about the November international series now his number one scrumhalf last season, Tomás O'Leary, is back in contention just five months after suffering a horrific ankle injury.

Not yet in the starting team, O’Leary’s place on the bench for Munster’s trip to Scarlets nonetheless represents a triumph of sorts for the Munster medical staff and O’Leary’s strength of character.

It was against Scarlets in Thomond Park that O’Leary sustained the injury that saw him miss his team’s Heineken Cup semi-final earlier this year and deprived him of a place on the Lions tour to South Africa.

It was originally thought the serious injury would keep O’Leary out of action until late November or early December. In that light Kidney should be well pleased with progress as it also gives the player time to regain match fitness.

Munster team manager Shaun Payne has also been quick to praise O’Leary’s rapid recovery.

“Tomás has shown tremendous professionalism and dedication in getting himself back playing and great credit is due to him and to the work done by our medical and fitness staff,” said Payne. “It is, of course, great to see him back.”

Fellow scrumhalf Peter Stringer picked up a calf strain in last week’s win over Cardiff Blues which rules him out, so Toby Morland will partner his old school mate Jeremy Manning tonight.

Coach Tony McGahan retains 21 of the 22 that saw duty against the Blues, with Marcus Horan missing out this time for French international prop Julien Brugnaut. Hooker Damien Varley also starts ahead of Denis Fogarty.

Scarlets make three changes, with former Ireland flanker Simon Easterby coming back into the back row. He is joined by prop Rhys Thomas, while Gareth Maule, who has come through all the Welsh age group national teams and is seen as an aggressive, strong runner, makes a competitive debut at centre.

Scarlets handed Heineken Cup champions Leinster an opening defeat but coach Nigel Davies is in no doubt about the challenge his team are likely to face as Munster have won all of the last seven meetings between the teams.

“The big challenge against Munster will be their physicality,” said Davies. “They’re honest and basic in their game plan and they bring huge intensity to the contact area.

“We want to play with quick ball and we are starting to show people what we do when we create that. But Munster will want to stop us having that ball so that’s going to be a hell of an area this weekend.”

SCARLETS: D Evans; S Lamont, G Maule, J Davies, M Jones (c); R Priestland, M Roberts; I Thomas, K Owens, R Thomas, L Reed, D Day, S Easterby, D Jones, D Lyons. Replacements: P John, E Phillips, D Manu, V Cooper, R Pugh, L Williams, D Newton.

MUNSTER: F Jones; D Howlett, B Murphy, L Mafi, D Hurley; J Manning, T Morland; J Brugnaut, D Varley, J Hayes; D Ryan, M O'Driscoll (capt); A Quinlan, N Ronan, D Leamy. Replacements: D Fogarty, T Buckley, B Holland, T O'Donnell, T O'Leary, S Deasy, T Gleeson.

Referee: A Rolland(IRFU).

Forecast: Munster