News round-upWhile a threatened injunction of the Munster Branch appears to have subsided over their allocation of tickets for the Heineken Cup quarter-final against Stade Francais in Thomond Park, there will be a managers meeting next week to discuss what has become a charged issue in the province.
Several Munster clubs reacted with anger following a reduction in the ticket allocation (see below) to clubs and the lack of sales to the public. While the legal threat appears to have been avoided, it is uncertain as to whether anything can be changed given the demand from Stade and the ERC, as well as the press allocations.
On the pitch Christian Cullen again lines out at full back as Munster travel to Ulster for their Celtic Cup meeting tomorrow evening. Mossie Lawlor, who played outhalf last week, moves to the right wing with Jason Holland returning to partner scrumhalf Eoin Reddan. Ireland prop John Hayes's younger brother Tom gets his first Munster start in the second row while Ireland flanker David Wallace comes into the back row.
Ulster have lost prop Robbie Kempson, who has withdrawn due to a neck injury, and is replaced by Ronan McCormack.
Leinster coach Gary Ella has named an unchanged back line to the one that played in last week's 40-34 defeat to Edinburgh Rugby. Again Mathew Leek and Brian O'Meara are the Leinster half backs with Argentinian outhalf Felipe Contepomi again positioned at inside centre.
Some uncertainty surrounds loose-head prop Enda Bohan, who didn't travel last week as his first child is due. There is no change in that situation but Bohan is named to start. Hooker David Blaney returns after a hamstring strain and replaces the injured Gavin Hickie. Hickie, with a dislocated collar bone, joins Coyle and flanker Shane Jennings on the growing injury list.
The Ireland Under-21 team has two changes to the side that defeated Grand Slam holders Wales 30-19 last time out. Ireland go into tomorrow's match at Kingsholm against England without flanker Brendan O'Connor (Cork Constitution), who has an ankle injury. He is replaced by UCD's Kevin McLaughlin. Prop Declan Fitzpatrick (Belfast Harlequins) also suffered a shoulder injury against Wales and has also been replaced by a UCD's Keith Doyle.
MUNSTER TICKETS ALLOCATION (capacity 13,257): Affiliated senior and junior clubs 3,400; Stade Francais 3,199; Munster Supporters Club 2,850; Corporate hospitality 720; ERC Ltd and Commercial Partners 714; Squad, management, medical & support staff 536; School pupilS (distributed via School and Youth Committees 500; Munster sponsors 462; Branch and IRFU Committees 382; Munster Referess Association; Referee Assessors and Match Commissioner 209; Under-21, School, Youth and Junior Structure 146; Press 60; Office, ground & rugby development Staff 54; Sundry 25.
LEINSTER (v Cardiff Blues): J Norton; J McWeeney, C Warner, P Contepomi, B Burke; M Leek, B O'Meara; E Bohan, D Blaney, S Brophy, C Potts, B Gissing, D Dillon, N Ronan, A McCullen. Replacements: J Lyne, B Blaney, A Keraney, S Crawford, B O'Riordan, J Downey, G Brown.
MUNSTER (v Ulster): C Cullen; M Lawlor, J Kelly, R Henderson, A Horgan; J Holland, E reddan; F Roche, J Flannery, G McIlwham, T hayes, D Pusey, S Keogh, D wallace, J Williams (capt). Replacements: J Blaney, M Cahill, (E Halvey or D Ryan), P Malone, F Murphy, C O'Sullivan, S Payne.
IRELAND UNDER 21 (V England): A Finn (Dolphin); R Lane (UCC), J Hearty (Blackrock), G Telford (Dungannon), T Bowe (QUB); G Steenson (QUB), T O'Lewary (Cork Con); J Wickham (Clontarf), D Fogarty (Cork Con), K Doyle (UCD), D Gannon (Blackrock, captain), S O'Connor (Cork Con), K McLaughlin (UCD), O Hennessy (Dungannon), J Heaslip (Trinity). Replacements: C Geoghegan (UCD), S Bennett (Bath), N McComb (Dundee HSFP), D O'Brien (Old Belvedere), R Shaw (London Wasps), M Glancy (Loughborough University), B O'Donnell (UL Bohemians).
