Munster likely to rest a few

Rugby : Denis Leamy, Donnacha Ryan and Peter Stringer have all been left out of an extended Munster squad to face Edinburgh …

Rugby: Denis Leamy, Donnacha Ryan and Peter Stringer have all been left out of an extended Munster squad to face Edinburgh at Thomond Park this Saturday (8.30pm), but they are likely to be joined a few more familiar faces when the team is revealed tomorrow.

Under the IRFU’s player management programme Paul O’Connell and Ronan O’Gara are expected to sit out the PRO12 clash, while Conor Murray may also make way for Tomás O’Leary to return the starting line-up.

Leamy is omitted after aggravating a hip injury while Ryan has an injured toe. Both are expected to train next week, as will Stringer, who is on Barbarians duty for their game against Australia on Saturday.

Munster: J Murphy, D Howlett, D Barnes, L Mafi, D Hurley, L O'Dea, T Gleeson, S Zebo, S Deasy, W Chambers, I Keatley, R O'Gara, T O'Leary, D Williams, C Murray, M Horan, W Du Preez, J Ryan, J Hayes, D Fogarty, D Varley, BJ Botha, S Henry, S Archer, P O'Connell, I Nagle, P Butler, T O'Donnell, B Holland, M O'Driscoll, D O'Callaghan, J Coughlan, N Ronan, P O'Mahony,