Munster Prepare for a Tough Encounter

Gray skies that gave way later in the morning to heavy rain greeted the Munster players when they awoke in the La Mon Hotel just outside Belfast city this morning ahead of their game against Ulster.

Gray skies that gave way later in the morning to heavy rain greeted the Munster players when they awoke in the La Mon Hotel just outside Belfast city this morning ahead of their game against Ulster in Ravenhill (5.15pm).

However despite the inclement weather all reported fit and well and looking forward to what can be expected will be a tough encounter with the side that finished second in the Celtic League last season.

For this game Alan Gaffney has rung the changes in no small way with just four of those who featured in the starting line-up against Ospreys – Christian Cullen, Shaun Payne, Donncha O’Callaghan and David Wallace – lining out once again this evening. And two of those – Payne and Wallace – will start in different positions, Payne on the wing as opposed to the center berth and Wallace set to wear the number 8 jersey in what has to be seen as a particularly exciting selection.

Donncha O’Callaghan, although named in the international 22 for the opening game of the season against South Africa is released by Eddie O’Sullivan who feels the big Cork man needs game time and O’Callaghan partners Trevor Hogan who did such an impressive job for the side in the absence of O’Callaghan in earlier games.

With a back three of Cullen, Payne and Lawlor, Munster have loads of pace while Jason Holland and James Storey will add steel to the midfield.

It will be a huge task for Munster who have lost five of their last six games here and no doubt the home side will be more than keen to exorcise the memory of that disastrous showing last week in Kingsholm.

Munster Team:

C Cullen; S Payne; J Storey, J Holland, M Lawlor; P Burke, M Prendergast; F Roche, J Flannery, G McIlwham; D O’Callaghan, T Hogan; A Quinlan, D Leamy, D Wallace;

Replacements: J Blaney, E McGovern, T Bowman, S Keogh, E Reddan, M Mullins, J Kelly

Ulster:

15 – Bryn Cunningham; 14 – Tommy Bowe; 13 – Jonny Bell; 12 – Paul Steinmetz; 11 – Tyrone Howe; 10 – Adam Larkin; 9 – Neil Doak; 1 – Simon Best; 2 – Paul Shields; 3 – Rod Moore; 4 – Rowan Frost; 5 – Matt McCullough; 6 – Andy Ward (Captain); 7 – Neil Best; 8 – Campbell Feather

Replacements: 16 – Rory Best; 17 – Ronan McCormack; 18 – Gary Longwell; 19 – Gary Brown; 20 – Kieran Campbell; 21 – Seamus Mallon; 22 – Andrew Maxwell.