Munster Announce Squad To Face Edinburgh
Denis Leamy, Donnacha Ryan and Peter Stringer are the only notable absentees from the extended Munster squad named today for the visit of Edinburgh to Thomond Park on Saturday night (kick-off 8.30pm).
Denis Leamy has aggravated an existing hip injury and Donnacha Ryan has an injured toe, but both players are expected to be back training next week.
Meanwhile, experienced scrum half Peter Stringer is away with the Barbarians for their Killik Cup match against Australia at Twickenham this weekend.
And the Michael Bradley-coached Edinburgh side will arrive with their confidence sky high after Heineken Cup wins over London Irish and Racing Metro 92.
Although third-from-bottom in the RaboDirect PRO12 table, the Scots had a good victory away to Benetton Treviso in the most recent round of the league.
Over 48,000 spectators watched Munster against Leinster at the Aviva Stadium that weekend and the defeat leaves Tony McGahan’s men in third place.
Saturday’s game is crucial given that fourth and fifth-placed teams, Glasgow Warriors and Cardiff Blues, are both at home and could push the Munstermen out of the play-off zone.
MUNSTER Squad (v Edinburgh) – Backs (15): Johne Murphy, Doug Howlett, Danny Barnes, Lifeimi Mafi, Denis Hurley, Luke O’Dea, Tom Gleeson, Simon Zebo, Scott Deasy, Will Chambers, Ian Keatley, Ronan O’Gara, Tomas O’Leary, Duncan Williams, Conor Murray.
Forwards (19): Marcus Horan, Wian du Preez, John Ryan, John Hayes, Denis Fogarty, Damien Varley, BJ Botha, Sean Henry, Stephen Archer, Paul O’Connell, Ian Nagle, Paddy Butler, Tommy O’Donnell, Billy Holland, Mick O’Driscoll, Donncha O’Callaghan, James Coughlan, Niall Ronan, Peter O’Mahony.