Jones Back In Contention For Munster
Felix Jones, Mike Shery and Tommy O’Donnell are all included in the 28-man Munster squad that will travel to Italy in the morning for Saturday’s RaboDirect PRO12 clash with Benetton Treviso.
Also included in the Munster panel are Ireland Six Nations squad members Ronan O’Gara, Donnacha Ryan and Peter O’Mahony, along with Munster Academy and UL Bohemians scrum half Cathal Sheridan who is uncapped at this level.
Felix Jones returned to action for Shannon last weekend after almost seven months on the sidelines with foot ligament damage.
Tommy O’Donnell limped out of the December derby against Ulster at Ravenhill with a knee injury. Mike Sherry, injured in a club game, has been out of the Munster squad since the match against Edinburgh at Murrayfield in October.
Eleven players are unavailable to Tony McGahan through injury, while Ireland captain Paul O’Connell, Donncha O’Callaghan and Conor Murray, who were all due to start against France last Saturday night, are unavailable for selection.
Keith Earls had been released back to play for the province but he will remain in Limerick to be with his partner and newly-born baby girl.
MUNSTER Squad (v Benetton Treviso) – Backs (11): Duncan Williams, Tomas O’Leary, Cathal Sheridan, Ronan O’Gara, Scott Deasy, Simon Zebo, Johne Murphy, Lifeimi Mafi, Danny Barnes, Denis Hurley, Felix Jones.
Forwards (17): Marcus Horan, Wian du Preez, Stephen Archer, John Ryan, BJ Botha, Denis Fogarty, Damien Varley, Sean Henry, Mike Sherry, Donnacha Ryan, Billy Holland, Mick O’Driscoll, Tommy O’Donnell, David O’Callaghan, Peter O’Mahony, James Coughlan, Paddy Butler.