Rugby Celtic League: In a refreshing move away from the litany of who is injured or unavailable to play, coach Alan Gaffney yesterday welcomed back a number of players from the sidelines for Munster's game on Saturday against Cardiff Blues.
Irish centre-cum-winger Rob Henderson, back row Jim Williams and Irish second row Paul O'Connell all return from injury to a side that shows five changes from the team that started against Glasgow last week.
Henderson takes over from Mike Mullins at inside centre, where he will be partnered by Shaun Payne. The ubiquitous Payne moves in from the wing position he occupied in Glasgow.
In the pack O'Connell, free from injury, returns to the second row to line out alongside Trevor Hogan. Gaffney has opted for Hogan over Tom Bowman due to the good form of the former.
The experience and know-how of Jim Williams is also expected to add competitive weight to the team. Having now recovered from the elbow injury he picked against Leinster, the former captain replaces Alan Quinlan in a back row where Denis Leamy just can't be shifted. The former Irish under-21 continues in the openside position at the expense of Irish flanker, David Wallace.
Team skipper Anthony Foley continues at number eight.
Out on the wings, Anthony Horgan and John Kelly provide the cutting edges. Kelly retains his place having impressed when he came on as a replacement for James Storey last Saturday. Another player that may get a run is newcomer, Paul Devlin.
Signed from rugby league side Widnes Vikings, Devlin has been capped by Ireland at under-21 level, where he was a team-mate of Leamy.
"Denis and Jim have been outstanding in their appearances to date. Last week we felt Denis needed a rest and Jim wasn't available but now he is," said Gaffney yesterday. "There is also the question of giving players the opportunity to stake a claim and to that end we are trying to give squad members as much game time as possible."
In Ulster Mark McCall has not been having much luck with his back-row players of late. Andy Ward, probably out for another month, and Roger Wilson, miss this week's match against Glasgow at Hugheden. Subsequently the former Irish centre has been forced to make three changes to personnel and one positional change in the Ulster pack ahead of Saturday. His luck holds with the back line, which remains unchanged and has a solid look about it.
Ronan McCormack and Nigel Brady join Simon Best in the front row in place of Rod Moore and Paul Shields who are both named on the bench, with Best switching to tighthead prop, while newcomer Gary Brown moves into the number eight. Matt Mustchin provides back-row cover from the bench.
But Ulster will look to the players behind the pack to perform. Captain David Humphreys, Irish centre Kevin Maggs, international winger Tyrone Howe and New Zealand's Paul Steinmetz all provide a wealth of experience.
In the AIB All-Ireland League, which begins this weekend, three Connacht clubs, Buccaneers, Corinthians and Galwegians, have changed their kick-off times to avoid a clash with Connacht's Celtic League game against Edinburgh on Saturday at 2.30 p.m.
Buccaneers and Corinthians will play their games under lights on Saturday, while Galwegians will take on Dublin University on Sunday.
Buccaneers will face Cork Constitution at 7.0 p.m. at Dubarry Park, Athlone, with Corinthians scheduled to take on Portadown in their Division Three game at Corinthian Park, also at 7.0 p.m. Sunday's game involving Galwegians and newly-promoted Trinity will kick-off at 2.30 p.m. at Crowley Park.
MUNSTER
C Cullen; J Kelly, S Payne, R Henderson, A Horgan; R O'Gara, P Stringer; M Horan, F Sheahan, J Hayes, T Hogan, P O'Connell, J Williams, D Leamy, A Foley (captain). Replacements: J Flannery, G McIlwham, T Bowman, A Quinlan, M Prendergast, P Burke, P Devlin
ULSTER
B Cunningham; T Bowe, K Maggs, P Steinmetz, T Howe; D Humphreys (captain), K Campbell; R McCormack, N Brady, S Best, G Longwell, M McCullough, C Feather, N Best, G Brown. Replacements: P Shields, R Moore, R Frost, M Mustchin, N Doak, P Wallace, J Bell.
