Celtic League and under-21 squad: Munster coach Alan Gaffney must wait until today to learn whether flanker Denis Leamy will be available for tomorrow night's Celtic League match against Edinburgh at Murrayfield.
The former Rockwell College pupil made his debut for Ireland last week in the victory over the USA but because of lingering injury concerns to Johnny O'Connor, who was named at openside for Saturday's game with Argentina, Leamy has been placed on standby.
If he's available for Munster then he'll play, most probably in a backrow that would include Alan Quinlan and Jim Williams. David Wallace has recovered from injury and is available for selection. John Kelly (ankle) and Anthony Horgan (hamstring), both injured while training with the national squad, have once again been ruled out.
Munster are looking for their seventh Celtic League win in succession and their ninth game in total. A central figure in that run of victories is fullback Christian Cullen who was named the Celtic League Player of the Month for October.
Ulster welcome back Tommy Bowe after his try-scoring debut for Ireland last weekend for the Celtic League game against Llanelli at Stradey Park on Sunday. He replaces Scott Young on the right wing with the latter dropping to the bench.
Meanwhile, following last season's memorable performances during the Under-21 World Cup which saw Ireland reach the final, the present crop of Irish under-21s will have their first competitive outings this season when they take on two French regional selections in Paris.
A squad of 41 players will be split into two selections and will play two games in Marcoussis, Paris, on Saturday with the first game kicking off at noon followed by the second at 1.30 p.m.
MUNSTER: C Cullen; S Payne, M Mullins, R Henderson, M Lawler; P Burke, M Prendergast; F Roche, J Blaney, G McIlwham; T Hogan, T Bowman; (backrow from): A Quinlan, S Keogh, J O'Connor, D Leamy, J Williams, D Wallace. Replacements: E McGovern, D Fogarty, T Hayes, AN Other, E Reddan, J Storey, J Holland.
ULSTER: B Cunningham; T Bowe, J Bell, P Steinmetz, A Maxwell; A Larkin, K Campbell; R McCormack, P Shields, R Moore; G Longwell, R Frost; M McCullough, C Feather (capt), N Best. Replacements: N Brady, B Young, R Wilson, G Pfister, N Doak, S Young, T Howe.
IRISH UNDER 21 SQUAD (v two French under 21 Regional XV): J Andress (Belfast Harlequins), E Bracken (Buccaneers), R Caldwell (Dungannon), J Coady (Dublin University), M Diffley (Buccaneers), A Dunlop (Terenure College), M Essex (UCC), S Ferris (Dungannon), O Hennessy (Dungannon), C Henry (Malone), D Houston (City of Derry), A Kavanagh (Garryowen), R Loughney (UL Bohemian), G Maxwell (Dungannon), M Melbourne (Garryowen), J Merrigan (Corinthians), G Moore (Queens University), B McNamee (Northampton), R Quinn (UCC), P Rowe (Dublin University), L Stevensen (Belfast Harlequins), D Toner (Lansdowne), P Beirne (Blackrock), B Cahill (Bruff), S Grissing (UCD), M Hewitt (Clontarf), T Horner (Belfast Harlequins), P Howard (Dublin University), D Hurley (UCC), B Keeshan (Cork Constitution), M Kettyle (Belfast Harlequins), S Megaw (Queens University), R McCarron (UCD), P McKenzie (Belfast Harlequins), B O'Donnell (UL Bohemians), D O'Leary (UCC), D Riordan (Corinithians), J Sexton (St Mary's College), G Steenson (Dungannon), A Trimble (Ballymena), C Willis (UCD). M McDermott (Coach). B Walsh (assistant Coach). D Haslett (Manager).
