Munster have named a full strength side for their final Guinness Inter-Provincial clash with Ulster at Ravenhill on Friday night. Ronan O'Gara has made a full recovery from the nasty knee injury sustained in the Heineken Cup semi-final victory over Castres and, despite receiving 13 stitches, he will take his place alongside Peter Stringer at fly-half.
With Anthony Foley and Jim Williams still on the injured list there will be a new look back-row of Donnacha O'Callaghan, David Wallace and Alan Quinlan at number 8. Foley and Williams have resumed training, albeit in a limited way, and both face a race against time to be in contention for a place in the starting line up for the Millennium Stadium showdown with Leicester.
Munster manager Declan Kidney refuses to rule either player in or out of the Heineken Cup final picture, confirming: "Jim begins jogging at the end of the week and Anthony did a little light exercise this week. Obviously it's a question of time but right now our focus is on Friday night and the game against Ulster. It's a championship game. It's going to be tough, we know that, these type of matches always are.. We don't have a great record at Ravenhill, it's their last game and players will be anxious to impress with a view to contracts next season."
Kidney will use the match to fine-tune his preparations ahead of the final in Cardiff later this month, while he will also be anxious to avoid injuries to key players. However, he insists he will approach this game no different to any other: "From our point of view we prepare the same as we do for every game. We take each game as it comes. Any of our players who played there in the 'friendly' last time will be under no illusions of what to expect."
Munster travel to Belfast on Thursday and return directly after the game, which has a 7.30pm kick-off, on Friday night.
Munster XV v Ulster:15 - Dominic Crotty, 14 - John Kelly, 13 - Rob Henderson, 12 - Jason Holland, 11 - Anthony Horgan, 10 - Ronan O'Gara, 9 - Peter Stringer, 1 - Peter Clohessy, 2 - Frankie Sheahan, 3 - John Hayes, 4 - Mick Galway, 5 - Paul O'Connell, 6 - Donnacha O'Callaghan, 7 - David Wallace, 8 - Alan Quinlan
Filed by Shane Murray
