Six Changes For Munster

Not surprisingly, four of six changes to the Munster starting XV, from last weekend, are caused by the return of internationals Keith Earls, Donncha O’Callaghan, Peter O’Mahony and Ronan O’Gara who captains the side in the absence of Paul O’Connell.

The other two changes sees Marcus Horan preferred at loose-head to Wian du Preez while the sixth change is positional with Johne Murphy moving from the outside centre berth he operated from in Galway, to the right wing in place of the injured Denis Hurley (dead leg).

Horan came on as a 54^th minute replacement for du Preez at the Sportsground and on the basis of his impressive 26+ minute shift retains the number 1 shirt a week before the Heineken Cup quarter final.

Mick O'Driscoll and Donncha O'Callaghan partner up for just the third time this season, O'Callaghan playing in his 101st League game while winning his 198th Munster cap and he readily admits this is one of the games that sets his pulses racing.

" Absolutely. These are the games that everyone wants to be involved in." he said after training yesterday in CIT. "They're what make the dark and dirty nights of winter training so worthwhile.

"And they're great occasions. There's always that bit of a bigger buzz ahead of the Leinster game.

"It'll be a massive game for us," he continued. "They're the form side, a real good side and they'll have all their big boys back so we'll really have to produce something special if we're to get anything out of this."

News of injured trio Paul O'Connell, Donnacha Ryan and Conor Murray is positive.

Ryan took a limited part in training yesterday while O'Connell and Murray travelled to Dublin to see a Specialist who cleared them for training next week.

Ryan would look to be on track for inclusion in the squad for the Ulster game while O'Connell and Murray's participation will depend on how they come through training.

Munster: F Jones; J Murphy, K Earls, L Mafi, S Zebo; R O’Gara capt, T O'Leary; M Horan, D Varley, BJ Botha; D O’Callaghan,M O'Driscoll; Dave O'Callaghan, P O’Mahony, J Coughlan. Replacements: M Sherry, W du Preez, S Archer; B Holland, T O’Donnell, D Williams, I Keatley, D Barnes.