Munster include Flannery in squad

Crisis for Munster as Tuitupou could miss Toulon match (pending citation hearing) leaving Tony McGahan’s side with a shortage in the back line.

JERRY FLANNERY HAS been included in the Munster squad ahead of their Heineken Cup meeting with Toulon this Saturday.

The hooker last played in June for Ireland against the Barbarians, but played 40 minutes for Shannon in their AIL match against Garryowen last Friday.

Flannery says that he hopes to stay fit now after his four month layoff. The hooker played just six times for Munster last season.

“There is a lot of rugby to play. The trick now is to try and stay fit. There is a lot of competition everywhere for places. If you are not fit, you are not even considered. Hopefully, I will be considered for selection. They may want me to play some more club rugby or they may want me involved in the game with Toulon. That is up to the management team.”

Also named in the travelling party is Niall Ronan, who picked up a slight injury against London Irish but has been cleared to play. Sam Tuitupou is included, but might not play if he is found guilty at a disciplinary hearing this afternoon in Dublin.

Coach Tony McGahan acknowledges that there is an injury crisis at Thomond Park ahead of the Heineken Cup match against a strong Toulon side featuring Felipe Contepomi and Jonny Wilkinson amongst others.

“We’re certainly at the bottom end in terms of players who we have registered for the Heineken Cup. The only player we have left that didn’t play in the 10 backs at the weekend is Danny Barnes, so that’s the last back that is available for selection that we can use this weekend.

“But we are used to it; you don’t get too many weeks in the season where you have a perfect run-in with regards to availability or players with injuries or players not being able to train. It is just the normal practice that unfortunately you get used to; it certainly doesn’t help, but it’s part of it.”

MUNSTER (to play Toulon, Saturday, Thomond Park): Wian Du Preez, Marcus Horan, Mike Sherry, Jerry Flannery, Damien Varley, John Hayes, Darragh Hurley, Tony Buckley, Billy Holland, Donnacha Ryan, Donncha O’Callaghan, Mick O’Driscoll, Alan Quinlan, David Wallace, Niall Ronan, Denis Leamy, Peter O’Mahony, James Coughlan, Duncan Williams, Peter Stringer, Ronan O’Gara, Scott Deasy, Paul Warwick, Danny Barnes, Keith Earls, Johne Murphy, Sam Tuitupou, Doug Howlett, Denis Hurley.