Flannery And Hurley Included By Munster
Hooker Jerry Flannery and full-back Denis Hurley have been included in the Munster squad for Saturday’s Heineken Cup Pool 1 return match against Clermont Auvergne at Thomond Park (kick-off 3.30pm).
Jerry Flannery’s last game was against Sale Sharks in Edgeley Park, while Denis Hurley last saw action for Munster against Ulster in the Magners League game at Ravenhill.
Meanwhile, Saturday’s encounter with Clermont Auvergne has been confirmed as a sell-out and there will be no tickets on sale for the game.
Thomond Park will be packed to its capacity for a second time in less than a month and Munster officials and players will be hoping that the packed stadium will generate the same atmosphere as it did on the night of the All Blacks game as Munster strive to maintain their interest in this year’s competition.
Chief Executive Garrett Fitzgerald believes that Munster’s renowned 16th man, the Thomond Park crowd, will need to be in full voice as never before.
“Effectively, given the competitiveness of this group, there will be just one team emerging,” he said.
“So we need to win each of our next three games and the game against Clermont on Saturday will set the tone.
“The players themselves recognise the importance of the crowd and we believe that with the crowd in full voice, the players will not be found wanting.”
Munster lie in second place in the Pool 1 table, one point behind Sale Sharks, who will be expected to come away from Montauban with maximum points next weekend, and just one point ahead of Clermont Auvergne.
MUNSTER Squad (v Clermont Auvergne): Backs (12) – Tomas O’Leary, Peter Stringer, Ronan O’Gara, Paul Warwick, Lifeimi Mafi, Keith Earls, Barry Murphy, Kieran Lewis, Ian Dowling, Doug Howlett, Anthony Horgan, Denis Hurley.
Forwards (14) – Marcus Horan, John Hayes, Tony Buckley, Denis Fogarty, Frankie Sheahan, Jerry Flannery, Mick O’Driscoll, Paul O’Connell, Donncha O’Callaghan, Donnacha Ryan, Alan Quinlan, David Wallace, James Coughlan, Niall Ronan.