Big guns return to provincial firing line

THEY’RE BACK. A sure sign that the 2009-10 rugby season is entering into the first of its meatier stages came with yesterday’s squad selections.

Paul O’Connell, Ronan O’Gara, Donncha O’Callaghan and Keith Earls are all in line to make their seasonal reappearances for Munster at home to the Dragons on Sunday, with Jean de Villiers also named, while Leinster welcome back Luke Fitzgerald, Jamie Heaslip and Rob Kearney for the trek to Edinburgh on Saturday.

Brian O’Driscoll is being kept back for another week, and so will have a gentle little run-out against Munster at the RDS on Friday week before the Heineken Cup holders begin the defence of their crown a week later at home to free-scoring London Irish. The Irish captain could probably have played this week at a push, but is being rested as a precautionary measure due to a pinched nerve in his neck.

Facing the league leaders this week and the league champions six days later in what is a demanding first month of the season, Michael Cheika has also recalled the fit-again Girvan Dempsey, Mike Ross and Devin Toner, and promoted the 19-year-old ex-Gonzaga and Irish under-20 backrower Dominic Ryan who, by all accounts, has been making an impressive impact in training and could well start.

Malcolm O’Kelly, who impressed Cheika in the 18-11 win away to the Ospreys last weekend, is rested, while Stephen Keogh is best man at his brother’s wedding (the game was originally fixed for Sunday). With his big brother returning, Dave Kearney drops out. That’s big brothers for you.

After their gritty, functional and highly creditable win away to the Ospreys, this game perhaps affords Leinster a last opportunity to juggle their resources, with some of those who’ve started every game so far liable to be on the bench. The older Kearney, Fitzgerald and Heaslip look set to start and Shaun Berne may be given a run at outhalf.

Edinburgh have won their last nine league games and are closing in on Leinster’s league record of 11 straight wins. Their flying start has heightened the sense of expectation for this game according to Leinster’s consultant coach Alan Gaffney.

“Edinburgh have always been a good side and perhaps they’re only getting the recognition they deserve now after their excellent start to the season,” said Leinster’s consultant coach.

“Edinburgh have a hugely competitive pack. Their backrow has been a real area of strength for them in recent years and in my time coaching on this side of the world you expect to face a powerful pack. They have exciting backs who like to run and they are adept at spinning the ball out wide and playing with a lot of attacking flair. Phil Godman is playing well at 10 and Chris Paterson likes to attack from fullback.”

While Leinster finally ended their Murrayfield hoodoo in the first of a Euro double over Edinburgh last season, they have lost on their last seven league visits to Scotland and have only won once in the league in Edinburgh.

With two wins out of three, Gaffney and co are happy with the adaptability which Leinster have shown this season, though admitted: “At this moment in time we know that we’re not in top form, but we are improving. Saturday’s game will be another massive challenge for us.”

“The remaining Lions players have been working very hard in training over the last few weeks and I know how desperately keen they all are to get back on the paddock and play. It has been a long pre-season for them, which was deserved after a long season, but they’re fit and raring to go and we’re happy to welcome them back to the panel. They will just add to the competition levels in the squad, which is good news for us.”

Likewise with the league champions Munster, who aside from welcoming back four more of their Lions and de Villiers, also recall Marcus Horan, Nick Williams and James Coughlan in a 25-man squad for the visit of the second-placed Dragons to Cork. Although David Wallace has resumed training, a recurring back problem has delayed his return for another week.

Jerry Flannery is also training, and may play for Shannon this Saturday in a friendly against Galwegians, while Peter Stringer’s calf strain has sidelined him for another week.

Doug Howlett is rested while the rib injury Niall Ronan sustained in the win away to the Scarlets has ruled him out. Billy Holland, Scott Deasy and Tom Gleeson are re-routed to the Munster A side to take on their Ulster counterparts in Shawsbridge, a fixture which sees the seasonal returns from injury of Ian Dowling, Duncan Williams and Darragh Hurley.

LEINSTER SQUAD (v Edinburgh):Forwards – L Cullen, J Fogarty, C Healy, J Heaslip, N Hines, B Jackman, S Jennings, R McCormack, K McLaughlin, S O'Brien, M Ross, D Ryan, D Toner, S Wright.

Backs – Shaun Berne, G D’Arcy, G Dempsey, L Fitzgerald, S Horgan, C Keane, R Kearney, S Keogh, F McFadden, I Nacewa, E Reddan, J Sexton

MUNSTER SQUAD (v Dragons):Forwards – M Horan, J Brugnaut, T Buckley, J Hayes, D Fogarty, D Varley, M O'Driscoll, P O'Connell, D O'Callaghan, D Ryan, A Quinlan, T O'Donnell, D Leamy, N Williams, J Coughlan.

Backs:T O'Leary, T Morland, R O'Gara, J Manning, L Mafi, J de Villiers, B Murphy, D Hurley, K Earls, F Jones.

MUNSTER A (v Ulster):D Riordan; I Dowling, T Gleeson, S Deasy, D Barnes; D Cusack, D Williams; D Ryan. M Sherry, S Archer; I Nagle, D Foley; B Holland capt, E Grace, P O'Mahony. Replacements: S Henry, D Hurley, K Essex, B O'Mahony, P Rowley, A Burke, R O'Mahony.