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Dowling And Howlett Ruled Out For Munster

Dowling And Howlett Ruled Out For Munster

Wingers Ian Dowling and Doug Howlett have been withdrawn from the Munster starting line-up for Sunday’s Heineken Cup semi-final clash with Biarritz Olympique in San Sebastian (kick-off 4.15pm local time/3.15pm Irish time).

Both Ian Dowling and Doug Howlett had been named in the province’s side earlier today but failed to come through the Captain’s Run this evening at Thomond Park, with their respective knee and hamstring injuries troubling them.

It means that Lifeimi Mafi has been promoted from the bench to take Howlett’s right wing, while Denis Hurley will take over on the other wing from Dowling.

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Cork Constitution clubman Tom Gleeson, who is yet to make his Heineken Cup debut, has been added to Munster’s replacements bench.

Munster have won four previous semi-finals in the Heineken Cup and famously beat Biarritz Olympique in the 2006 decider in Cardiff.

Their captain for Sunday’s game, out-half Ronan O’Gara, insists that the province’s previous record will not count for anything in northern Spain.

“We have been here before but that’s in the past. The great thing about sport is that it happens in the present,” he said. 

“We are experienced in big atmospheres and games like these are why we play the game. The feeling of winning big games is very hard to talk about, especially what happens in the game or what happens in the dressing room.

“But that’s what we aspire for and the reason we put in all those long hours during pre-season. We work for days like Sunday.

“And what is great about this bunch of players and the management is that the core have been together for the last ten years.

“We have proven how consistent we are and we’re at the semi-final stage again. We are only two steps away from winning the competition and one step from the final.

“But the feelings of disappointment or elation are magnified by ten from the quarter-finals onto the semi-finals. We can talk all day about it but it’s all about actions.”

MUNSTER (v Biarritz Olympique): Paul Warwick; Lifeimi Mafi, Keith Earls, Jean de Villiers, Denis Hurley; Ronan O’Gara (capt), Tomas O’Leary; Marcus Horan, Jerry Flannery, John Hayes, Donncha O’Callaghan, Mick O’Driscoll, Alan Quinlan, David Wallace, James Coughlan.

Replacements: Damien Varley, Julien Brugnaut, Tony Buckley, Nick Williams, Niall Ronan, Peter Stringer, Tom Gleeson, Scott Deasy.