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Alan Quinlan will make his 200th Munster appearance ©INPHO/Billy Stickland
Meltdown

Magners League Meltdown

Quinlan set for 200th cap, Leinster recall plethora of internationals, Trimble back for Red Hand and Connacht make a measly ONE change.

ALL FOUR IRISH provinces have Magners League fixtures this weekend, with Munster and Ulster at home.

Alan Quinlan will make his 200th competitive Munster appearance should he play in Thomond Park, becoming the first Munster player since Anthony Foley to reach the landmark, Lifeimi Mafi should return after his shoulder operation, and David Wallace could also make a comeback. Keith Earls is still some way away from a return.

Munster (v Ospreys, 8pm, Saturday): D Hurley, F Jones, S Deasy, I Dowling, D Howlett, D Barnes, J Murphy, S Tuitupou, R O’Gara, P Warwick, D Williams, P Stringer, T O’Leary. W du Preez, M Horan, D Varley, D Fogarty, J Hayes, T Buckley, D O’Callaghan, B Holland, D Ryan, M O’Driscoll, I Nagle, A Quinlan, N Ronan, D Leamy, T O’Donnell, P O’Mahony.

Ulster are able to recall Andrew Trimble after his finger injury, and will also welcome back another international on the wing in the shape of USA Eagle  Paul Emerick.  Paddy Wallace is rested as part of the IRFU Player Development programme- replaced by Ian Whitten in the centre. Bryan Young comes into the front row for the injured Declan Fitzpatrick. Stephen Ferris also returns, with Pedrie Wannenburg on the bench.

Ulster (v Edinburgh, 8.05pm, Friday): Jamie Smith; Paul Emerick, Darren Cave, Ian Whitten, Andrew Trimble; Niall O’Connor, Paul Marshall, Bryan Young, Andi Kyriacou, Tom Court, Johann Muller (Captain), Ryan Caldwell, Stephen Ferris, Chris Henry, Robbie Diack

Four Irish internationals are recalled for Leinster, with Gordon D’Arcy, Rob Kearney, Eoin Reddan and Cian Healy all coming in to the team to play Treviso. Isaac Boss and Henke Van Der Merwe all move to the bench.

Leinster (v Benetton Treviso, 7.05pm, Saturday): Rob Kearney, Isa Nacewa, Eoin O’Malley, Gordion D’Arcy, Luke Fitzgerald, Ian Madigan, Eoin Reddan, Sean O’Brien, Shane Jennings, Rhys Ruddock, Ed O’Donoghue, Nathan Hines, Mike Ross, John Fogarty, Cian Healy

Connacht make just one change from the side which lost to Scarlets last week for their away fixture against Glasgow Warriors. Andrew Browne returns from injury to replace Dave Nolan on the bench. Ian Keatley, Gavin Duffy, Fionn Carr and Sean Cronin all start for the Westerners. John Muldoon is still injured so Frank Murphy continues to deputise at scrum-half. Ray Ofisa, Niva Ta’auso and Bernie Upton all passed fitness tests and will play.

Connacht (v Glasgow, 7.30pm, Friday): Gavin Duffy, Troy Nathan, Niva Ta’auso, Keith Matthews, Fionn Carr, Ian Keatley, Frank Murphy (capt.), Mike McComish, Ray Ofisa, Michael McCarthy, Bernie Upton, Michael Swift, Jamie Hagan, Sean Cronin, Brett Wilkinson