The season cranks up a gear this weekend as Munster welcome back Lions stars Paul O’Connell, Keith Earls, Ronan O’Gara and Donncha O’Callaghan for the tie and the holders look forward to a mammoth Magners League tie with arch rivals Leinster at the RDS on Saturday week and the heineken Cup pool meeting with Northampton seven days later.
Munster will be aiming to complete a sixth straight success over the Dragons in Cork this weekend, but there are real signs that the Welsh side are a much improved outfit this season.
Springboks centre Jean de Villiers is set to make his Munster debut against the Dragons this Sunday.
De Villiers, who is settling in to his new home near Annacotty, trained with his Munster team-mates for the first time this Tuesday.
Munster’s starting line-up to face the improving Welsh side will be named at lunch time this Friday.
Munster team manager Shaun Payne expects South African De Villiers to play for about 40 minutes on Sunday: “Jean won’t play more than half a match. We will be looking to ease him into things at this stage of the game. The plan is for him to play at 12 at this stage. There obviously will be times on the pitch when the centres can swap over.”
Payne added: “The decision to base Jean de Villiers in Limerick had to do with the spreading of our player resources. Having an experienced international back based in Limerick was important. Obviously, we have Rog (Ronan O’Gara) in Cork as well. He is a leader in terms of the backline. That is why we felt it was important to have Jean here.”
While five Lions are included in the squad to face the in-form Dragons, flanker David Wallace is omitted, but it is hoped he will return for the meeting with Leinster. Niall Ronan, who picked up a rib injury against the Scarlets at the weekend, is ruled out as is Peter Stringer, who is recovering from a calf muscle strain. Paul Warwick, who is recovering from a foot injury, is also unavailable while Doug Howlett is being rested.
The good news for Munster coach Tony McGahan is that Kiwi back-row Nick Williams is fully fit once again and featured for Dolphin in a friendly against Young Munster last weekend.
Team manager Payne said the returning Lions had a very good pre-season, but it they were unlikely to play for any more than 40 or 50 minutes in Sunday’s game: “We are not going to be pushing our luck with any of the Lions who are coming back. Saying that, they have all had a good pre-season. They have had almost a full eight weeks. There won’t be too many worries there. Injury-wise, the boys are all fine.
“I am sure some guys will play 40 minutes, some 50. That will depend on the game too. It is an important game for us. We need to be winning all our home games.”
Munster claimed their second win of the League last weekend when a splendid solo try from Denis Hurley and Jeremy Manning’s successful conversion stunned the Scarlets at Parc y Scarlets.
Payne said: “I thought last week’s game was an excellent win, an excellent result. I think results like that give great belief to the group of players who played the game. We did not really perform as we should have right throughout the game, but we kept the belief, kept going and trying and were able to steal a win at the end. It was an excellent result in terms of the confidence we have.”
Meanwhile Ian Dowling’s recovery from injury continues when he lines out for the Munster A side in their meeting with Ulster A at Shawsbridge at 3.30pm this Thursday.
Thomond’s Declan Cusack has been named at out-half in the side which will be captained by Billy Holland.
Meanwhile former Munster coach Declan Kidney, who led Ireland to their first Grand Slam success in more than 60 years, received an honorary doctorate of science from the University of Limerick this Tuesday.
Munster squad (v Dragons): Marcus Horan, Julian Brugnaut, Tony Buckley, John Hayes, Denis Fogarty, Damien Varley, Mick O’Driscoll, Paul O’Connell, Donncha O’Callaghan, Donncha Ryan, Alan Quinlan, Tommy O’Donnell, Denis Leamy, Nick Williams, James Coughlan, Tomas O’Leary, Toby Morland, Ronan O’Gara, Jeremy Manning, Lifeimi Mafi, Jean de Villiers, Barry Murphy, Denis Hurley, Keith Earls, Felix Jones.
Munster A v Ulster A: Danny Riordan; Ian Dowling, Tom Gleeson, Scott Deasy, Danny Barnes; Declan Cusack, Duncan Williams; Dave Ryan.Mike Sherry, Stephen Archer; Ian Nagle, Dave Foley; Billy Holland capt, Eoghan Grace, Peter O’Mahony. Replacements: Sean Henry, Darragh Hurley, Kieran Essex, Barry O’Mahony, Paul Rowley, Andrew Burke, Ronan O’Mahony.
Colm Kinsella
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