Clohessy takes place on front line

Peter Clohessy sports the covering specially designed to protect the burn injuries his right arm - Inpho

The irrepressible Peter Clohessy has fought his way back to fitness and will start against Castres in tomorrow’s Heineken Cup semi-final at Beziers (2 p.m. Irish time).

The outgoing Munster prop, who retires at the end of the current campaign, has been selected in Declan Kidney’s starting XV despite suffering second-degree burns to his arm earlier this month.

Clohessy, whose inclusion in the team will be a massive boost to a Munster side coming to the end of an era, received the injuries while burning rubbish in his garden and will require a special protective covering on his arm for the match.

Paul O’Connell will also line out in the Beziers sunshine, the young Ireland lock having shaken off a troublesome shoulder problem. Ronan O’Gara and John Hayes, both slight concerns during the week, will also take their place in a Munster side seeking their second Heineken Cup final appearance in three seasons.

Clohessy, known affectionately as ‘The Claw’, will resume hostilities with Castres in the searing heat of the French south coast with temperatures forecasted to soar, both on and off the pitch in front of a capacity 20,400 crowd.

There is little love lost between Clohessy and the French outfit, and indeed the French in general, and no quarter will be asked for, nor given, as both sides meet each other for the third time this year.

In this season’s final Group 4 match at Castres (Munster won their home match 28-23 but were beaten 21-13 away) Clohessy received a nasty bite wound to his forearm, ironically the same arm injured in the accident at his home.

Castres’ Ivory Coast-born number eight, Ismaela Lassissi, initially received a lengthy ban for the incident but subsequently had that quashed on appeal and will scrum down against Clohessy once again tomorrow.

Clohessy was also part of the Ireland side humbled in the Stade de France by the all-conquering French and will be desperate to set the record straight on what will be his swan song on French soil.

• Faxed messages of goodwill to the Munster team can be sent to 0033467457152.

Munster: D Crotty; J Kelly, R Henderson, J Holland, A Horgan; R O'Gara, P Stringer; P Clohessy, F Sheahan, J Hayes, M Galwey (capt), P O'Connell, A Quinlan, A Foley, D Wallace.

Replacements: M Horan, J Fogarty, M O'Driscoll, D O'Callaghan, M Prendergast, M Mullins, J Staunton.

Castres: R Teulet; U Mola, E Artiguste, N Berryman, S Longstaff; G Townsend (captain), A Albouy; M Reggiardo, R Ibanez, B Moyle, I Ferdandez-Lobbe, N Spanghero, R Froment, I Lassissi, A Costes.

Replacements: R Vignaux, D Dima, S Chinarro, T Bourdet, O Sarramea, G Delmotte, F Plisson.