Munster delays squad announcement
Munster coach Tony McGahan has delayed naming his squad ahead of their Magners League match against Ulster on Friday 29 October at Ravenhill.
The coach will be without 21 team players due to injury and the Autumn International call ups. The November Tests take place on 6 November and Ireland will face South Africa before they take on Fiji, New Zealand and Argentina in consecutive weekend matches.
The Munster team’s troubles have been eased after veteran prop John Hayes, scrum-half Peter Stringer and in-form winger Johne Murphy were released from the Irish camp to take part in Munster’s visit to Ulster.
McGahan admitted that the squad was “very threadbare”, but that his side would be able to cope.
Team manager, Shaun Payne echoed head coach McGahan’s sentiments and said, “I've said all along that this season we've perhaps our strongest squad and I certainly think that the side that we select for Friday will reflect that."
Nine Munster players will remain with the Ireland panel, while ten players remain injured, including captain Paul O’Connell who is suffering from a long term injury.
Lifeimi Mafi and Sam Tuitupou are both serving suspensions and Munster may have to look to their fringe players to fill in for the missing first team members.
Ronan O’Gara will be a loss, but the versatile Paul Warwick has shown that he is a fantastic replacement to have.
The forward pack will still have the likes of Alan Quinlan and John Hayes up front. They will also be able to include former All Black winger Doug Howlett and Munster will be confident that they can beat Ulster, despite the loss of so many players.
McGahan will look to the leaders like Quinlan, Stringer and Warwick to help some of the younger players who are likely to get a start in a depleted Munster side.
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