McGahan sticks with Murray for Cardiff trip

Rugby – team news:At least six of the match day 22 that brought the curtain down on Ireland's Six Nations campaign against England last Saturday will be pressed straight back into Magners League action for their provinces this weekend.

Munster coach Tony McGahan has included Keith Earls, Ronan O’Gara, Paul O’Connell and Denis Leamy in his starting line-up for the trip to Cardiff tomorrow night while Peter Stringer is named on the bench.

With Tomas O’Leary ruled out with an eye injury, and Stringer among the replacements, McGahan has opted to keep faith with Conor Murray at scrumhalf after his eye-catching performance against the Dragons.

"Conor has been a consistent member of the senior squad in training over the past twelve months because of international call ups and injuries to our half-back position,” McGahan said today.

"In this time he has gathered valuable training experiences from the more senior players in the squad which allowed him to play off the bench in the last year’s Six Nations window and start against the Dragons in our last Magners League game.

"He impressed the coaching staff and fellow players with an enthusiastic and mature display in his first professional start and deserves to be in the mix competing with Peter and Duncan (Williams) for game time with Tomas's unfortunate bout of injuries."

In Ulster, Tom Court and Paddy Wallace will both start in Glasgow tomorrow night. Andrew Trimble has been rested after picking up a quad injury during the 24-8 win over England but Rory Best comes in to provide cover on the bench.

Leinster have yet to name their side to take on the Dragons but are expected to include Jonathan Sexton, Eoin Reddan and Leo Cullen in their side.

Munster

(v Cardiff): F Jones, D Howlett, J Murphy, L Mafi, K Earls, R O'Gara, C Murray, W du Preez, D Varley, T Buckley, P O'Connell capt, M O'Driscoll, J Couglan, N Ronan, D Leamy.

Replacements:

M Sherry, M Horan, S Archer, D Ryan, P O'Mahony, P Stringer, S Tuitupou, D Cusack.

Ulster

(v Glasgow): S Danielli; C Gaston, N Spence, P Wallace, C Gilroy; R Pienaar, P Marshall; T Court, A Kyriacou, D Fitzpatrick, J Muller (capt), D Tuohy, R Diack, C Henry, P Wannenburg.

Replacements:

R Best, P McAllister, B Young, T Barker, W Faloon, I Whitten, T Seymour, A D’Arcy.