MUNSTER COACH ROB Penney has made four changes to his starting team for tomorrow’s clash with Perpignan in Pool 6 of the Heineken Cup [KO 3.40pm Irish time].
Ireland international Donnacha Ryan has returned from a knee injury sooner than expected to claim a place alongside Paul O’Connell in the second row. The 30-year-old hasn’t featured for Munster since injuring knee ligaments against Gloucester in October.
The fact that Ryan visited Perpignan recently for a tour of their facilities with a view to a move there next season adds an extra element of interest to his return tomorrow.
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In the front row, James Cronin is selected at loose-head prop, with Dave Kilcoyne dropping to the bench despite a strong performance in last weekend’s 36-8 win over the French side. BJ Botha also comes into the starting team in place of Stephen Archer at tight-head prop.
The knee injury sustained by Conor Murray last time out means Cathal Sheridan comes in at scrum-half, with Duncan Williams on the bench as back-up. Ian Keatley had recovered from a dead leg to take his place at out-half.
Elsewhere, the team in unchanged, with captain Peter O’Mahony, James Coughlan and the impressive Sean Dougall continuing in the back row, while James Downey and Casey Lualala continue their centre partnership.
There is welcome new inclusion on the bench in last season’s Munster Player of the Year, Tommy O’Donnell. The Tipperary man made his comeback from injury off the bench for Munster ‘A’ last weekend after suffering a hyper-extension of his knee against Zebre in September.
Munster: Felix Jones; Keith Earls, Casey Laulala, James Downey, Johne Murphy; Ian Keatley, Cathal Sheridan; James Cronin, Damien Varley, BJ Botha; Donnacha Ryan, Paul O’Connell; Peter O’Mahony(capt.), Sean Dougall, James Coughlan.
Replacements: Duncan Casey, Dave Kilcoyne, Stephen Archer, Donncha O’Callaghan, Tommy O’Donnell, Duncan Williams, JJ Hanrahan, Denis Hurley.
Meanwhile, former Munster centre Lifeimi Mafi returns to the starting team for Perpignan, who are missing James Hook, Luke Charteris and Dewaldt Duvenage – all three have bizarrely been given a week’s holiday.
Perpignan: Joffrey Michel; Richard Haughton, Lifeimi Mafi, Watisoni Votu, Sofiane Guitoune; Tommy Allen, Nicolas Durand; Sébastien Taofifenua, Romain Terrain, Ion Paulica; Sébastien Vahaamahina, Guillaume Vilacéca; Dan Leo, Alasdair Strokosch, Luke Narraway (capt.).
Replacements: Guilhem Guirado, Pascal Cotet, Jean-Baptiste Custoja, Jutin Purll, Tom Ecochard, David Marty, Tommaso Benvenuti, Jean-Pierre Perez.
Four changes for Munster as Donnacha Ryan returns
MUNSTER COACH ROB Penney has made four changes to his starting team for tomorrow’s clash with Perpignan in Pool 6 of the Heineken Cup [KO 3.40pm Irish time].
Ireland international Donnacha Ryan has returned from a knee injury sooner than expected to claim a place alongside Paul O’Connell in the second row. The 30-year-old hasn’t featured for Munster since injuring knee ligaments against Gloucester in October.
The fact that Ryan visited Perpignan recently for a tour of their facilities with a view to a move there next season adds an extra element of interest to his return tomorrow.
In the front row, James Cronin is selected at loose-head prop, with Dave Kilcoyne dropping to the bench despite a strong performance in last weekend’s 36-8 win over the French side. BJ Botha also comes into the starting team in place of Stephen Archer at tight-head prop.
The knee injury sustained by Conor Murray last time out means Cathal Sheridan comes in at scrum-half, with Duncan Williams on the bench as back-up. Ian Keatley had recovered from a dead leg to take his place at out-half.
Elsewhere, the team in unchanged, with captain Peter O’Mahony, James Coughlan and the impressive Sean Dougall continuing in the back row, while James Downey and Casey Lualala continue their centre partnership.
There is welcome new inclusion on the bench in last season’s Munster Player of the Year, Tommy O’Donnell. The Tipperary man made his comeback from injury off the bench for Munster ‘A’ last weekend after suffering a hyper-extension of his knee against Zebre in September.
Meanwhile, former Munster centre Lifeimi Mafi returns to the starting team for Perpignan, who are missing James Hook, Luke Charteris and Dewaldt Duvenage – all three have bizarrely been given a week’s holiday.
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