100th Cap For O’Connell

Paul O’Connell will win his 100th competitive Munster cap when he leads the side out this evening for the crucial Heineken Cup round 5 tie with Sale Sharks at a full house Thomond Park Stadium.

A win for both sides is really a must if they are to continue to entertain hopes of advancing to the knock-out stages while Clermont Auvergne (home to Montauban) cannot be ruled out of the equation although with a final round trip to Sale theirs is the most dificult route.

MUNSTER: P Warwick; D Howlett, K Earls, L Mafi, I Dowling; R O’Gara, T O’Leary; M Horan, J Flannery, J Hayes, D O’Callaghan, P O’Connell [capt], A Quinlan, D Wallace, D Leamy. Replacements: D Fogarty, F Pucciariello, D Ryan, N Ronan, P Stringer, B Murphy, D Hurley.

SALE SHARKS : M Cueto; C Bell, A Tuilagi, L McAlister, D Doherty; C Hodgson, R Wigglesworth; L Faure, M Jones, E Lewis-Roberts, S Chabal, D Schofield, C Jones, N Briggs, J Fernandez, Lobbe (capt). Replacements: S Turner, A Sheridan, B Cockbain, C Fearns, D Peel, R Keil, M Tait.

Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)