Munster may call on frontliners

Rugby:How many of them will actually feature is open to debate, but Tony McGahan has named all of his frontline Ireland internationals in the Munster squad for Friday night's Pro12 clash with Aironi.

While it seemed unlikely the likes of Paul O’Connell, Donncha O’Callaghan and Ronan O’Gara would be pressed into action against the Italians at Musgrave Park, they are among five players who started the World Cup quarter-final defeat to Wales in the McGahan’s selection.

Munster have even indicated that “most of those involved in the World Cup will see action on Friday in Cork”.

While McGahan may choose to include his Ireland frontliners, Stephen Ferris and Rory Best have been afforded another week’s recovery by Ulster following their exertions at the World Cup.

The province can call on six players who featured in New Zealand for Saturday’s Pro12 match against the Scarlets. But Ferris and Best will not be available as they are rested as part of a player management programme implemented post-World Cup.

Ireland internationals Tom Court, Paddy Wallace and Andrew Trimble, the South African duo of Johann Muller and Ruan Pienaar and Scotland’s Simon Danielli are all named in Brian McLaughlin’s squad for the trip to Wales.

Luke Marshall is not considered after fracturing his jaw in a club game two weeks ago, while Jerry Cronin has suffered a neck injury and is due to get a scan.

Munster squad:M Horan, W du Preez, J Hayes, BJ Botha, S Archer, D Varley, D Fogarty, M O'Driscoll, D Ryan, D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell, B Holland, D Leamy, N Ronan, P O'Mahony, T O'Donnell, D O'Callaghan, J Coughlan, T O'Leary, C Murray, D Williams, P Stringer, I Keatley, R O'Gara, K Earls, D Barnes, L Mafi, W Chambers, D Howlett, D Hurley, J Murphy, S Deasy.

Ulster squad:P McAllister, C Black, T Court, A Macklin, D Fitzpatrick, A Kyriacou, N Brady, L Stevenson, J Muller, D Tuohy, T Barker, N McComb, M McComish, P Wannenburg, W Faloon, C Henry, R Diack; P Marshall, R Pienaar, I Porter, I Humphreys, P Jackson, P Wallace, N Spence, I Whitten, D Cave, C Gilroy, S Danielli, A Trimble, C Gaston, P Nelson, A D'Arcy