Munster hope to bounce back

MUNSTER coach Tony McGahan is confident the province’s ‘quality senior players’ will help the side bounce back in style from their embarrassing defeat to Leinster in this Saturday’s ‘backs-to-the-wall’ Heineken Cup showdown with the Northampton Saints at Franklin’s Gardens (6pm).
McGahan revealed that some frank talking had been done in the Munster dressing room following Saturday’s 30-point drubbing at the hands of old rivals Leinster.
The Munster coach expects a positive response from his charges this weekend as the Magners League champions renew rivalries with the side which defeated them in the 2000 Heineken Cup final.
Skipper Paul O’Connell said the poor display against Leinster would act as a major motivating factor in Saturday’s clash with the Saints.
“Everything needs to improve from last weekend.
“I think if it does, we have a good chance at the weekend,” O’Connell said at this week’s launch of the 15th Heineken Cup.
“I think it will be a big motivation for us having had such a disappointing performance last Saturday. We did none of our basics well and that’s the most important thing you do.
“Going away to Northampton and going away to Perpignan are going to be incredibly tough games, so we’re going to be concentrating on getting out of our group first and foremost.”
With captain O’Connell, Jerry Flannery and David Wallace successfully coming through their first appearances of the season on Saturday, it seems certain that coach McGahan will make several changes to his starting line-up for the tie with Northampton.
Back-row forwards Denis Leamy and Alan Quinlan are also available to play having recovered from minor injuries.
Munster prop John Hayes appeared before an IRFU disciplinary panel this Tuesday evening in Belfast following his red-carding in Saturday’s clash with Leinster.
John Hayes, who boasted a previous exemplary record, received a red card for an alleged stamp on Leinster player Cian Healy in the second half of the game.

Colm Kinsella