Quinlan Set For Munster Milestone

Alan Quinlan, who celebrated his 36th birthday in July, will this weekend become just the second Munster player to reach the 200-cap mark.

In the coming weeks, the Tipperary-born back rower is set to create a new caps record for Munster, surpassing former captain Anthony Foley (201 caps).

And it is his passion for the red jersey that has kept Quinlan, now in his 15th season of professional rugby, at the top according to Mick Galwey, who was the first Munster player to win 100 caps.

“I remember when he started first. His first game in fact, his first few games and then his first Heineken Cup,” recalled Galwey.

“I could see it meant so much to him and even to this day I can still see that putting on the Munster jersey means so much to Alan.

“That’s the reason he’s still there. He doesn’t take it for granted. We always said that any day you pull on a Munster jersey is a great day and Quinny would always be thinking along those lines.”

Selection wise, the inclusion of scrum half Tomas O’Leary is the only change to the Munster back-line that started last weekend’s win over Edinburgh.

Up front, Munster will start Saturday’s game with the front five that finished against Edinburgh. Donnacha Ryan is retained in the second row, with Marcus Horan, Denis Fogarty, John Hayes and Donncha O’Callaghan brought into the starting line-up.

The back row combination is unchanged, stand-in captain Denis Leamy leads it alongside Quinlan and Niall Ronan.

MUNSTER (v Ospreys): Felix Jones; Doug Howlett, Johne Murphy, Sam Tuitupou, Ian Dowling; Paul Warwick, Tomas O’Leary; Marcus Horan, Denis Fogarty, John Hayes, Donncha O’Callaghan, Donnacha Ryan, Alan Quinlan, Niall Ronan, Denis Leamy (capt).

Replacements: Damien Varley, Wian du Preez, Tony Buckley, Billy Holland, Peter O’Mahony, Peter Stringer, Ronan O’Gara, Danny Barnes.