O’Gara Leads Munster

In the absence of squad captain Paul O’Connell, Munster will be led by Ronan O’Gara when they resume their Magners League campaign against the Scarlets in Llanelli on Friday evening.

O’Gara is one of seven players involved with Ireland last weekend included in Munster’s first trip to the Scarlets new home, Parc Y Scarlets in the Pemberton area of Llanelli.

Also included in the squad is Denis Leamy who has just agreed terms that keeps him with Ireland and Munster until after the next World Cup. Leamy who played his first competitive game of the season against the All Blacks in Thomond Park last Tuesday week but suffered injury in that game at the end of the opening quarter said, ” It was just a bit of a knock and they (management) took me off as a precaution more than anything else. Thankfully I’ve fully recovered and looking forward to getting back into the swing of things. Its been a good week for me with the contract  terms agreed and I’m delighted with the way the IRFU dealt with that. Now the opportunity is there to get myself back into the side with important games coming up, starting with this one on Friday. “

Joining Leamy in the pack are his international colleagues from last weekend, Marcus Horan, Tony Buckley, Donncha Ryan and Donncha O’Callaghan with O’Callaghan mindful of Munster less than impressive record against the Scarlets in this competition. “Last

Munster: P Warwick; D Howlett, K Earls, L Mafi, I Dowling; R O’Gara, T O’Leary; M Horan, F Sheahan, T Buckley; D O’Callaghan, M O’Driscoll;  D Ryan, N Ronan, D Leamy. Replacements: D Fogarty, F Pucciariello, J Coughlan, J O’Sullivan, P Stringer, B Murphy, A Horgan.