Munster run some fresh legs
Fri, 24 Oct 2008 14:53
Mick O'Driscoll will lead a rotated Munster side on Saturday evening when the Magners leaders resume their League campaign in Ravenhill against Ulster.
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O'Driscoll captains a side that shows several changes from the one that started against Sale Sharks last time out as coach Tony McGahan omits players who have been involved in almost all of Munster's games to date.
"This season we have maintained an open squad policy but besides that, the likes of Ronan [O'Gara] has played in six of our last seven games, he was a replacement in the other game, Keith [Earls] the same," said McGahan.
"Paul [O'Connell] and Doug [Howlett] have played seven straight, John, [Hayes] the last five games and we're only in month two of a nine month season. So there's a very good reason for maintaining the size of squad we have. We can't expect the same guys to play all the time.
"There are no more formidable places to go than Ravenhill and we fully recognise that. Ulster are a tough, robust side. But we have full confidence in our squad, in their ability to put their best foot forward to defend the good form we've shown up to now," he added.
Munster: 15 Denis Hurley, 14 Anthony Horgan, 13 Barry Murphy, 12 Lifeimi Mafi, 11 Ian Dowling, 10 Paul Warwick, 9 Paul Stringer, 8 Justin Melck, 7 John O'Sullivan, 6 Alan Quinlan, 5 Donncha Ryan, 4 Mick O'Driscoll (captain), 3 Tony Buckley 2 Denis Fogarty, 1 Frederico Pucciariello.
Replacements: 16 Jerry Flannery, 17 Darragh Hurley, 18 Mark Melbourne, 19 James Coughlan, 20 Mike Prendergast, 21 Jeremy Manning, 22 Keith Lewis.
Date: Saturday, October 25
Venue: Ravenhill
Kick-off: 19.35 (18.35 GMT)
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
Touch judges: David Keane (Ireland), Dudley Phillips (Ireland)
TMO: John Carvill (Ireland)
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