Coughlan Anchors The Munster Scrum

Munster’s James Coughlan who captained the side in their two British & Irish Cup victories will anchor the Munster pack in the Magners League game against Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday (6.30pm).

The  28 year old Dolphin clubman’s last appearance at this level was against The Dragons when he came on as a 60th minute replacement for Tommy O’Donnell and prior to that his previous start was against Glasgow Warriors in March of last year. The Ireland international Sevens player was part of a superb Munster back-row – along with Niall Ronan, Denis Leamy and replacement Billy Holland -who ran the All Blacks so close last season.

He has being one of Munster’s stand-out players in the British & Irish Cup and is relishing the opportunity that Saturday’s game presents. “Yes really looking forward to the game at the Liberty. There is huge competition here in Munster for places in the back row and a good healthy rivalry among those of us looking for the jersey. I wouldn’t say there’s any niggle in training but but it is competitive. It has to be and if it wasn’t we wouldn’t be as successful a squad as we are.”  

Coughlan is one of five changes from last time out, four of those up front where newcomer Wian du Preez replaces Julien Burugnaut, John Hayes back in place of Stephen Archer with Coughlan in for Denis Leamy and Niall Ronan replacing David Wallace.

The one change in the backline from the Munster game sees Doug Howlett back for the first time since injuring a hamstring against Benetton Treviso in mid October.

Munster: P Warwick; D Howlett, J de Villiers, L Mafi, K Earls; R O’Gara, T O’Leary; W du Preez, D Fogarty, J Hayes; D O’Callaghan,  O’Connell;  A Quinlan, N Ronan, J Coughlan. Replacements: D Varley, T Buckley, D Ryan, N Williams, P Stringer, D Hurley, I Dowling,