Key men return for Munster

Rugby: Magners League leaders Munster will have three of their frontline internationals back in harness when they look to bounce back from their disappointing defeat to Treviso against Edinburgh at Thomond Park on Friday night (kick-off 7.50pm).

Outhalf Ronan O’Gara, scrumhalf Peter Stringer and backrow Denis Leamy have been recalled. O’Gara came on for Ireland in the second half of the Six Nations defeat to France last weekend, while Stringer and Leamy did not feature at all.

After coming through their respective club games at the weekend, Marcus Horan and Denis Fogarty are also included, as is Tony Buckley, who has agreed to join Sale Sharks at the end of the season on a three-year-deal.

Edinburgh interim coach Nick Scrivener has called for a “significant improvement” in the team’s performance, particularly at set-pieces and the breakdown, areas which cost the Scottish side against the Dragons last time out.

“We played a lot of good stuff against the Dragons, but if it’s happening in isolation, without the solid foundations you need to get a proper foothold, we’re not going to win games,” said the former Australia A, ACT Brumbies and Canberra Vikings coach.

“The big themes of our week have been improving the set-piece, how we defend the opposing team’s set-piece, and how we bring more physicality and direction at the breakdown.

“The way Munster play has changed slightly in the last few years, and there’s no doubt they’ve got a number of dangerous weapons in the backs, but the basics of their game are always at a very high level and we should take our lead from that.

“It’s about tightening up our game, really fronting up physically, and achieving consistency of performance.”

Scrivener has made four personnel changes. In the backs, James King replaces John Houston at inside centre, after the latter injured his knee against the Dragons.

Up front, Scott MacLeod returns from Scotland duty to take a place in the secondrow alongside Steven Turnbull. Ross Rennie returns at openside, having come off the bench in both of Scotland’s Six Nations defeats. Fraser McKenzie moves from lock to blindside flanker.

“Fraser has shown up well this season in the secondrow, but we feel he also has the skills to be a direct and effective six and we’ll be looking to him to impose himself in the right areas on Friday night,” added Scrivener.

“James King has been knocking hard at the door for some time now; he’s done well off the bench whenever he’s had the chance and certainly deserves a start.

“It’s great to have Scott and Ross back as well; they’re quality rugby players who will thrive in a hostile environment like Thomond Park. A number of our guys haven’t played there before, but the mark of a good player is to be inspired rather than intimidated by that sort of atmosphere.

“We’ll need everyone to front up, to hit a much better level of performance than last week and sustain it over the game.”

Munster are seven points clear of Leinster who are away to Cardiff, who in turn are nine points adrift of the leaders but just two points behind Leinster with a game in hand.

Munster squad (v Edinburgh):Darragh Hurley, Marcus Horan, Wian Du Preez, Peter Borlase, Tony Buckley, Stephen Archer, Damien Varley, Denis Fogarty, Donnacha Ryan, Ian Nagle, Mick O'Driscoll, Denis Leamy, Tommy O'Donnell, Billy Holland, James Coughlan, Duncan Williams, Peter Stringer, Ronan O'Gara, Scott Deasy, Denis Hurley, Paul Warwick, Sam Tuitupu, Lifeimi Mafi, Doug Howlett, Johne Murphy, Simon Zebo, Tom Gleeson

Edinburgh team (v Munster):Chris Paterson, Lee Jones, Ben Cairns, James King, Tim Visser, David Blair, Greig Laidlaw (Captain), Kyle Traynor, Andrew Kelly, Geoff Cross, Scott MacLeod, Steven Turnbull, Fraser McKenzie, Netani Talei, Ross Rennie. Replacements : Alun Walker, Lewis Niven, David Young, Alan MacDonald, Roddy Grant, Nick De Luca, Simon Webster, Jim Thompson