Munster Announce 26-Man Squad For Final
Munster were give a boost today as back-line trio Ronan O’Gara, Doug Howlett and Lifeimi Mafi all trained successfully at the University of Limerick ahead of Saturday’s Heineken Cup final showdown with Toulouse.
O’Gara (ankle), Howlett (toe) and Mafi (ankle) all sustained injuries in recent weeks but they look set to start the crunch clash with Toulouse.
Tomas O’Leary, the province’s first choice scrum half in recent European games, is also expected to be fit for Saturday’s game despite a hamstring strain.
Munster coach Declan Kidney has named a 26-man squad for the Cardiff decider with his panel including no major surprises.
Anthony Foley, the province’s captain for their 2006 Heineken Cup win, has been included along with fellow veteran Shaun Payne.
In other training news, prop Federico Pucciariello, who has been named in the Barbarians summer tour squad, sat out training with a stomach bug, while Mick O’Driscoll (back strain) was another absentee.
Kidney will announce his starting team and replacements at a joint press conference in Cardiff on Friday, along with Toulouse coach Guy Noves.
For photos of the Munster squad training at UL on Tuesday, please click here.
MUNSTER Squad (v Toulouse): Backs (12) – Peter Stringer, Tomas O’Leary, Ronan O’Gara, Paul Warwick, Ian Dowling, Doug Howlett, Rua Tipoki, Kieran Lewis, Lifeimi Mafi, Keith Earls, Denis Hurley, Shaun Payne.
Forwards (14) – Marcus Horan, Federico Pucciariello, John Hayes, Tony Buckley, Frankie Sheahan, Jerry Flannery, Paul O’Connell (capt), Donncha O’Callaghan, Mick O’Driscoll, Donnacha Ryan, David Wallace, Alan Quinlan, Denis Leamy, Anthony Foley.