Munster Host Glasgow Tonight in Musgrave

Munster head to Musgrave Park tonight in hope of revitalizing their Celtic League campaign. They have gone through an experimental phase recently and the squad feel they are finally starting to gel.

Munster head to Musgrave Park tonight in hope of revitalizing their Celtic League campaign. They have gone through an experimental phase recently and the squad feel they are finally starting to gel.

Alan Gaffney has admitted this week that his job has never been so difficult. This is mainly due to the selection constraints the coach is facing with the majority of his team at the world cup. However, Gaffney did receive some good news during the week with the news that Jason Holland, Martin McPhail and Denis Leamy return from injury for Munster’s clash with Glasgow.

Denis Leamy is one player in the squad that hopes that Munster can get back to winning ways.

“It has been difficult for all concerned. For the last couple of months, it has been as much a getting-to-know-you process as much as anything. “At the start of the season, we didn’t even know some of our team-mates because there were so many newcomers to the squad.”

Munster have had some knocks so far in the Celtic League and they will be desperate for a boost when they take on Glasgow at Musgrave Park this evening (7.30).

Leamy still believes victory is possible despite all the problems.

“We have had a slow start but things are coming together. “There is less than a quarter of the league campaign gone and there is plenty of time to make up lost ground.”

It may seem strange that Alan Gaffney should place so much importance on Leamy’s return from injury. But compared to a lot of his squad, Leamy has way more European experience. Gaffney was impressed to the point of giving Leamy game time during last year’s Heineken Cup campaign and is convinced that he will become one of Munster’s stalwarts.

For now, Leamy is happy to focus on personal improvement: “I have got stronger over the last year and I feel the benefit of full-time training. But I really want to keep my head down, work hard and hope to develop further.”

After four weeks on the sidelines, Leamy is looking forward to his return: “The last few weeks have been frustrating, but equally frustrating for the lads.

“I hope we can get the show back on the road against Glasgow.”

Munster v Glasgow (Celtic League) Venue: Musgrave Park. Kick-Off: Friday October 24th 7:30pm.

Munster Team to Face Glasgow:

15 Dominic Crotty 14 Martin McPhail 13 Mike Mullins 12 Jason Holland 11 Mossie Lawlor 10 Jeremy Staunton 9 Eoin Reddan 1 Simon Kerr 2 Andy Long 3 Frank Roche 4 Trevor Hogan 5 Stephen Keogh 6 Denis Leamy 7 David Wallace 8 Jim Williams capt

Replacements: Eugene McGovern James Blaney Donal Sheahan Colm McMahon Frank Murphy Conrad O’Sullivan Clem Casey.

Glasgow Team:

15 Stuart Moffat 14 Jon Steel 13 Graeme Morrison 12 Sean Lamont 11 Rory Kerr 10 Daniel Parks 9 Kenny Sinclair 1 Matt Proudfoot 2 Simon Gunn 3 Lee Harrison 4 Andrew Hall 5 Joe Beardshaw 6 Roland Reid 8 Paul Dearlove (captain) 7 Donnie Macfadyen

Replacements: 16 Scott Lawson 17 Euan Murray 18 Nathan Ross 19 Rory McKay 20 Mark McMillan 21 Calvin Howarth 22 Alan Bulloch.