John Kelly and Barry Murphy have both failed to recover in time
from injuries picked up in the game against Connacht last Sunday
and are not featured in the Munster match day 22 for the game against Cardiff Blues (kick-off 1.00pm Sunday, live on RTÉ Radio 1 and delayed coverage on RTÉ Two at 5.00pm).
Kelly is troubled with a hamstring strain and Murphy injured a
shoulder but both are hopeful of being fit for consideration for
the return game in Thomond Park.
Given their absence and that of Marcus Horan and Anthony Foley, the Munster side is along anticipated lines, albeit with five changes from the side that started last weekend.
Shaun Payne returns to the full back berth, Ian Dowling will wear the number 14 jersey and Lifeimi Mafi is at outside centre alongside Trevor Halstead.
On the bench, Christian Cullen, Mossy Lawlor and Diogo Mateus are vying for the number 22 shirt with a final decision likely to be made following a team run this evening.
Munster; Shaun Payne; Ian Dowling, Lifeimi Mafi, Trevor Halstead, Anthony Horgan; Ronan O'Gara, Peter Stringer; Federico Pucciariello, Frank Sheahan, John Hayes; Donncha O'Callaghan, Paul O'Connell (capt); Alan Quinlan, David Wallace, Denis Leamy.
Replacements: Andy Kyriacou, Darragh Hurley, Chris Wyatt, John
O'Sullivan, Tomas O'Leary, Jeremy Manning, Christian Cullen/Mossy Lawlor/Diogo Mateus.
Cardiff Blues: Ben Blair; Tom Shanklin, Jamie Robinson, Marc
Stcherbina, Chris Czekaj; Nick Robinson, Mike Phillips; Gethin
Jenkins, T Rhys Thomas, Taufaao Filise; Deiniol Jones, James Goode; Scott Morgan, Martyn Williams, Xavier Rush (capt).
Replacements: John Yapp, Duane Goodfield, Bradley Davies, Mark
Lewis, Ed Fairhurst, Nick MacLeod, Tom James.
