Wallace Back For Munster

David Wallace who missed the game against The Borders last weekend with a groin strain, has recovered to take his place in the side for the match tomorrow against Edinburgh.

Munster coach Alan Gaffney finalised his side for the Celtic League game againstEdinburgh (Fri Murrayfield 7.30pm) after the Captains Run held shortly after the squad arrived in Edinburgh today. Gaffney had delayed naming the side pending news from the Irish camp where Denis Leamy was on standby. Leamy has been released but Gaffney has opted to leave the Cashel man on the bench. Alan Quinlan will operate on the blindside with David Wallace at number 7 and Stephen Keogh anchoring the scrum.

Speaking from the team hotel this (Thursday) evening Gaffney explained, “We are in the lucky position of having very strong back-row personnel and it’s a question once again of giving guys game time and a fair chance to tie down a place in the side. Denis had a game last week but Wally missed out through injury so we’ll give him (Wallace) a start and be very happy that we have a player of Denis’s ability on the bench. Denis obviously hasn’t been with us all week and only joins up with the squad this evening.”

Munster travelled out from Cork this morning and Leamy – once he wasn’t required to cover for Johnny O’Connor – arrived later in the evening having flown from Dublin.

And with Christian Cullen back in the side following a rest that saw him miss the game against The Borders last weekend, Shaun Payne reverts to the wing, at the expense of Paul Devlin, with Mike Mullins and Rob Henderson retaining the centre partnership.

Out-half Paul Burke, who picked up his second Man of the Match award last Friday (v The Borders) will captain the side in the absence of Jim Williams, excused from duty following the birth of a son earlier in the week.

Munster: C Cullen; S Payne, M Mullins, R Henderson, M Lawlor; P Burke capt, M Prendergast; F Roche, J Blaney, G McIlwham; T Hogan, T Bowman; A Quinlan, D Wallace, S Keogh. Replacements: E McGovern, D Fogarty, T Hayes, D Leamy, E Reddan, J Holland, J Storey.