RUGBY: The return of John Hayes is a boost for Munster coach Alan Gaffney as the province gird themselves for the pivotal fortnight of their Heineken European Cup qualification campaign with back-to-back games against Gloucester.
On Saturday they travel to Kingsholm hoping to improve upon last season's opening match that produced a 35-16 defeat, the precursor to the final game in Pool Two which was released on video under the title The Miracle Match, in which Munster famously triumphed 33-6 to earn a place in the knockout stages.
Last season's fare would be enough to whet the appetite, but there is added spice as Ronan O'Gara and Duncan McRae square up at outhalf. The Australian McRae has spent much of the last few weeks apologising for trying to punch the daylights out of O'Gara during a match on the 2001 Lions tour.
The Corkman has been dignified in trying to downplay the incident.
McRae was influential when Gloucester bearded the Leicester Tigers at Welford Road in the English Premiership at the weekend. Gloucester will announce their team tomorrow.
Saturday's game is an 11,000 sell-out, a capacity crowd guaranteed as long ago as last November.
Gloucester have been hampered by injury, with the most notable casualty former Springbok Thinus Delport. He is joined on the sidelines by Scottish hooker Steve Brotherstone (knee), promising back row James Forrester (ankle) and first-choice hooker Chris Fortey (suspended), while Andy Hazell (stomach) and England and Lions tighthead Phil Vickery (rib) are doubtful. Vickery has not played since picking up the injury against Bourgoin before Christmas.
The likely replacement for Fortey at hooker is Chris Collins (25), although coach Nigel Melville could call upon academy prospect Rob Elloway or occasional prop Paul Johnstone.
Munster dismissed injury concerns over Scottish international prop Gordon McIlwham and Jeremy Staunton, both named among the replacements. Staunton loses out again to the in-form Shaun Payne at full back.
"Jeremy played very well for Garryowen last weekend," Gaffney explained. "Even though I wasn't at that game, but all the reports we got were good. Jeremy is a fine player, there's no doubt about that, but we feel that Shaun performed pretty well against Connacht in very difficult conditions. Obviously it's a difficult call, but Shaun can play 11, 14 or 15 and could probably also play 13, so he covers a few positions.
"He's a very versatile player, he's a very good player and adds a wealth of experience."
Gaffney added that while the Ireland training camps hadn't helped in the preparations, it was time to focus on Saturday's game. "The next two Saturdays are enormously important. When we heard the draw and saw we had them (Gloucester) we knew it was going to be tough. They're a good side, strong right across the paddock from one to 15. They were impressive last week against Leicester and that win will have given them a huge boost.
"We're evenly-matched. We know each other well and I suppose they'll have that game in Thomond to give them an added edge.
"Having said that, we were well beaten in Kingsholm, so there's plenty of motivation there."
Meanwhile, Leinster's opponents at Lansdowne Road on Friday night, Sale Sharks, have announced a team containing nine internationals. But they will travel without their points scoring phenomenon, the former South African international Braam Van Straaten.
Centre Chris Mayor is the only non-international in a backline that sees Jason Robinson at full back. He has played wing, full back and outside centre for the club. His presence in the number 15 jersey means Hong Kong international Vaughan Going, son of the legendary All Black scrumhalf Sid, is relegated to the replacements; it's a bench that includes a further three internationals.
Wings Mark Cueto and Steve Hanley have played for England, while former Wallaby Graeme Bond is well known to Leinster coach Gary Ella from their time together at New South Wales.
Sale boast a strong halfback partnership with the gifted Charlie Hodgson at outhalf, partnered by former Scottish international Bryan Redpath.
Up front, Andrew Sheridan, 6 ft 5 in and 19st 7lb, is named at loosehead prop. Chris Jones will partner Dean Schofield in the second row despite having played recently at number eight. Scotland's Jason White forms a back row alongside Alex Sanderson and another former New South Wales player, Stu Pinkerton, who'll be playing his last game for the club before returning to Australia.
MUNSTER: S Payne; J Kelly, M Mullins, R Henderson, A Horgan; R O'Gara, P Stringer; M Horan, F Sheahan, J Hayes; D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell; J Williams (capt), A Foley, D Wallace. Replacements: G McIlwham, J Blaney, D Pusey, S Keogh, E Reddan, J Holland, J Staunton.
SALE SHARKS: J Robinson; M Cueto, C Mayor, G Bond, S Hanley; C Hodgson, B Redpath; A Sheridan, A Titterell, S Turner; C Jones, D Schofield; J White, A Sanderson (capt), S Pinkerton. Replacements: M Cairns, K Yates, B Stewart, I Fullarton, M Lund, V Going, R Wigglesworth.
