Munster expect Gaffney to come on board

Alan Gaffney looks set to be confirmed as the next Munster coach, in succession to Declan Kidney, during the week. The move would, as an aside, give the Munster-Leinster Guinness Interprovincial clash at Musgrave Park on Friday evening added bite.

Following an approach from Newport some weeks ago, Gaffney (55) had been offered a much-improved contract to continue as Matt Williams' assistant at Leinster, but has stalled on signing it pending the Munster hierarchy's deliberations.

Gaffney intimated to Leinster Branch officials on Wednesday that he preferred to keep his hat in the Munster ring.

Perhaps a little piqued by that, Leinster went public with this development, which in turn probably didn't amuse their Munster counterparts. Although both parties have remained tight-lipped publicly about Gaffney's possible appointment as head coach at Munster, sources there indicate he has emerged as the favourite in a two or three-man short-list for the job. Players in Leinster are already resigned to losing Gaffney.

The Australian has had a long working relationship and close personal friendship with Williams since they first hooked up together at the Randwick club in Sydney. Gaffney assisted Williams at the New South Wales under-21s and at the Waratahs, before they resumed their partnership at Leinster for the last two seasons.

Having been tempted by the number one job at Newport, it's understandable that Gaffney now wants the role of head coach at Munster, and there will be little ill-feeling toward such an easy-going and popular figure within Leinster.

Nevertheless, the move would break up a successful coaching ticket at Leinster and leave a void there, where Gaffney was renowned for the emphasis he placed on coaching individual skills among the backs.

Gaffney will still be involved with Leinster this week and on Friday night, though the province's back division will be a long way from full strength.

Denis Hickie is ruled out after a minor shoulder operation last week, while Shane Horgan (ankle), Girvan Dempsey (shoulder) and Adam Magro (hamstring) will also be sidelined.

Dave Quinlan is likely to partner Brian O'Driscoll in midfield, while Leinster are hopeful that Gordon D'Arcy will be fit to form an outside three with Peter McKenna and John McWeeney.

Up front, Victor Costello is still in some pain with the chipped bone in his vertebrae which he sustained in the Ireland A defeat to France two weeks ago, while Trevor Brennan, who seems destined for English First Division side Orrell, is also highly doubtful with a back strain. Emmet Byrne and Gavin Hickie are also out.

In contrast, Munster expect to be at full strength when they announce their side tomorrow, apart from Peter Clohessy due to the burns he suffered in an accident. But team manager Jerry Holland has not ruled Clohessy out of the European Cup semi-final against Castres on Saturday week.

Friday's game is already virtually the interpro decider, and a full house is expected for this all-ticket repeat of the Celtic League final. But Holland plays down any sense of payback.

"Our focus is entirely on the Heineken Cup semi-final, and as such this is our last chance to give the team a run-out before that game, a bit like the Leicester match last season."

For that reason, Munster will be as close as can be to full strength for at least some of Friday's encounter, pending fitness checks on Alan Quinlan and Peter Stringer.

Ulster have up to 13 players unavailable for one reason or another for Friday's other encounter, against Connacht, mostly through injury. David Humphreys, Gary Longwell, Jeremy Davidson, Mark Blair and Russell Nelson are all out, while they are resting their Irish under-21 players after their recent World Cup exertions.

Nonetheless, it's a strong selection, including debut appearances for former Springbok backrow Warren Brosnihan and Dungannon hooker Nigel Brady.

"Nothing rides on the outcome of this match," says their coach, Alan Solomons, "so it's an opportunity for young Nigel Brady, for young Aidan Kearney, for 'Bros' to play his first game in almost five months, for Paddy Wallace to play at outhalf and for Bryn Cunningham to play at full back, and that's the way we're looking at it."

Connacht captain Mark McConnell has been forced to retire after he was advised to undergo a third operation on his troublesome back injury. The New Zealand-born lock, who had qualified for Ireland this season under the residency rule and had harboured ambitions of climbing further up the representative ladder, has been virtually unable to play this season and his leadership has left a void in the Connacht team.

CONNACHT: M McHugh; T Robinson, P Duignan, T Allnutt, W Munn; E Elwood, E Reddan; D McFarland (capt), M Uijs, P Bracken, D Browne, R Frost, C Rigney, D Dillon, J O'Connor. Replacements: R McCormack, G Flannery, M Swift, P Neville, J Ferris, C Keane, M McPhail.

ULSTER: B Cunningham; J Topping, R Constable, A Larkin, T Howe; P Wallace, N Doak; J Fitzpatrick, N Brady, S Best, P Johns, A Kearney, T McWhirter, W Brosnihan, A Ward (capt). Replacements: B Young, R Weir, M McCullough, A Hughes, K Campbell, S Coulter, J Cunningham.