Big guns return to Munster squad

Paul O'Connell, David Wallace, Denis Leamy and Jerry Flannery have all returned to the Munster squad for Friday night's crucial Heineken Cup game against French champions Perpignan in Thomond Park, writes RTÉ Sport's Michael Corcoran.

Coach Tony McGahan has named a 27-strong squad and all four players are expected to return to the starting line-up.

O'Connell was a late cry-off from the side beaten by the Ospreys last weekend, while Leamy, Wallace and Flannery have all recovered from knocks picked up during the recent Guinness International Series.

The squad also includes Darragh Hurley, who returns from injury and although he only played a small part, Marcus Horan took a limited part in training at Thomond Park on Tuesday morning.

The starting team and replacements will be named at 12 noon on Thursday.

Munster squad: Wian Du Preez, Darragh Hurley, Tony Buckley, John Hayes, Denis Fogarty, Damien Varley, Jerry Flannery, Donncha O'Callaghan, Donnacha Ryan, Paul O'Connell, Mick O'Driscoll, Alan Quinlan, Niall Ronan, David Wallace, Denis Leamy, James Coughlan, Peter Stringer, Tomas O'Leary, Ronan O'Gara, Paul Warwick, Lifeimi Mafi, Jean De Villiers, Keith Earls, Ian Dowling, Doug Howlett, Denis Hurley, Felix Jones.