Rugby – Team news:Donncha O'Callaghan will make his 63rd Heineken Cup appearance and win his 150th competitive Munster cap when they take on Northampton Saints in the European opener at Franklin's Gardens tomorrow night.
Like the rest of the Munster squad, O’Callaghan will be out to erase the memory of last weekend’s humiliating Magners League defeat to Leinster when they failed to put a single point on the board.
“We're coming off a disappointing result last weekend,” said O’Callaghan. “We know what we have to do. We've worked hard this week and hopefully we'll give a good account of ourselves."
"Northampton are a smashing side. Not unlike us. A proud provincial side. Great support. Great tradition. A good footballing side. And they don’t lose too often at Franklin's Gardens.”
Coach Tony McGahan has gone for a largely tried and tested XV that sees Paul O'Connell, David Wallace, Alan Quinlan, Jerry Flannery and Paul Warwick all due to start.
Tony Buckley comes in at tight-head ahead for the suspended John Hayes.
Kick-off tomorrow is 6pm.
Munster team (v Northampton):P Warwick; D Howlett, L Mafi, J de Villiers, K Earls; R O'Gara, T O'Leary; M Horan, J Flannery, T Buckley; D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell capt; A Quinlan, D Wallace, D Leamy. Replacements: D Fogarty, J Brugnaut, Darragh Hurley, M O'Driscoll, N Ronan, D Ryan, P Stringer I Dowling.
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