MUNSTER HAVE BEEN given a triple boost in an effort to ignite their ailing Pro12 campaign, with Irish internationals Donnacha Ryan, Tommy O’Donnell and James Cronin released to play against champions Glasgow Warriors on Friday [KO 7.35pm, Sky].
All three trained with Munster in University of Limerick today and assistant coach Ian Costello confirmed that the trio would feature in Friday’s game which will take place at Kilmarnock’s FC stadium which, ironically, is named Rugby Park.
“It is great to see Donnacha, Tommy and James back training with us, they just add so much experience and so much energy,” said Costello.
“They are quality players and to have them this weekend has definitely added another dimension to the group, especially with such a short turnaround.”
But Munster will be without centre Francis Saili, who scored his first competitive try for Munster in the disappointing 21-17 loss to Ospreys, who is out with a concussion picked up in that game on Sunday.
“It was a very frustrating defeat, especially having been in such a good position at 17-10 up, I thought we were going to push on from there. That was a game we should have won.
“We had a tough review, we will make a few changes, we have a view of the internationals back in to freshen things up and our focus is only on Glasgow. We will then look at the next game,” added Costello.
The game will be played on the 4G surface at the football ground because of the weather, but Costello said that Munster were used to playing on the artificial surface.
“We have done a lot of sessions on the 4G pitch at UL because of the weather conditions in the last while so we are used to it. The reality is that it is a quick pitch, the ball stays in play a long time, it doesn’t bounce as much.
“But this is a game which gives us a chance to go out and rectify things from the Ospreys game and what better challenge can there be than playing the champions on a fast surface,” he added.
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