Earls back in harness for big show at RDS

KEITH EARLS looks likely to reclaim the fullback position for Munster this week following his three-try haul two weeks ago. Earls sat out last weekend's game as a result of the rotation policy but replaces Denis Hurley for Sunday's game against Leinster as coach Paul McGahan makes six changes to the squad that beat Cardiff Blues last week.

Paul Warwick is preferred to Jeremy Manning in the only other change to the Munster backs.

McGahan retains all his front-line players including Doug Howlett, Ronan O'Gara, Peter Stringer, Paul O'Connell, John Hayes and the dynamic centre pairing Rua Tipoki and Lifeimi Mafi.

In the front row Frankie Sheahan comes into the 22-man squad in place of Denis Fogarty, while the Ireland prop Marcus Horan and regular Ireland lock Donncha O'Callaghan replaces two other Ireland internationals, Tony Buckley and Mick O'Driscoll.

The openside flanker David Wallace also comes back into the squad. The 47-times capped backrow replaces Niall Ronan, who bagged two tries on Saturday.

McGahan is clearly bringing in the more seasoned international forwards to meet a Leinster team that is also on form, while including Warwick and Earls, who is in particularly brilliant form running at defences.

Munster will announce their starting XV and replacements tomorrow after their morning training session.

The Leinster coach, Michael Cheika, will pare down his squad at the same time.

In Connacht Michael Bradley probably knows his side rode their luck last week as Glasgow missed a handful of kickable penalties in the Sportsground.

But his satisfaction in how Connacht improved their defence compared to the week before against Llanelli makes this week's trip to the Arms Park a little more comfortable than it might have been if the side had been travelling over without a win to their credit.

But Connacht's arrival has been met with faint praise from Blues coach David Young, who clearly sees a home win looming.

"We have great respect for our opponents," he said.

"What we expect from Connacht is what we get year on year, a very honest, workmanlike performance with players really playing their hearts out for each other. They are also well organised by their coaching staff.

"There is plenty of variation in their game but I'd like to think physically and skills wise, we'd have the edge on them.

"We have to build on our Munster performance and put away opportunities we have. We need to be scoring more tries and more points."

Last week Connacht had to defend for much longer than they liked but typically met Glasgow on the gain line.

Bradley is also aware Leinster will be visiting Galway on Sunday week and - win or lose to Munster this weekend - will be looking for Connacht's scalp.

Connacht lie second from the bottom, one place above Ulster.

MUNSTER SQUAD:(Backs) K Earls, D Howlett, B Murphy, R Tipoki, L Mafi, I Dowling, R O'Gara, P Warwick, T O'Leary, P Stringer; (forwards) F Pucciariello, M Horan, F Sheahan, J Flannery, J Hayes, D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell, D Ryan, J O'Sullivan, J Melck, A Quinlan, D Wallace.