Munster upbeat as injured quintet make progress

Publicly Munster weren't revealing whether they liked the idea or not, but privately they must be relieved that the Heineken Cup final organisers, the ERC, decided to close the roof on Cardiff's Millennium Stadium last night in advance of Saturday's decider.

"What we understand from the ERC is that they are closing the roof this evening and they'll review it on a daily basis," confirmed Munster manager Jerry Holland yesterday.

"The weather has been poor in Cardiff too for the last couple of days and so they've closed the roof at this point, but I understand they do it on a reasonably regular basis over there anyway."

As to whether the roof will be closed on Saturday, Holland added that that too will be entirely an ERC decision: "They will also make a decision on Saturday morning as to whether it will be open or closed for the game."

Ever mindful of the desire not to disclose their hand Holland declined to comment on whether this decision would be beneficial or not. "I think it's the same for both sides. I don't think either team would have experience of playing in a situation like that (with the roof closed) so I don't think it's going to make any difference."

Nevertheless, the prevailing inclement weather has unnerving memories of Twickenham two years ago and bearing in mind Leicester's renowned and lethal line-out maul, it's hard not to think that the decision to keep the ground dry for the next couple of days will not only benefit the game as a spectacle, but won't play into Leicester's hands as well.

Of less import, Declan Kidney went through the ritual of naming a 24-man squad yesterday, though he admitted: "ERC have asked us not to name a team until Friday and that probably suits us as well."

The latest medical bulletin from the Munster camp following yesterday's rain-drenched session behind closed doors at Thomond Park was not hugely different to those which have gone before.

Kidney was not inclined to rate the chances of the five main concerns in terms of percentages, namely Paul O'Connell, Jim Williams, Anthony Foley, Rob Henderson and Anthony Horgan, though he admitted that they are improving by the day.

Indeed, it is believed that one of their main doubts, O'Connell, did a little line-out work yesterday.

"Paul O'Connell is doing a little bit more each day and taking a little more weight on his ankle. Jim Williams is taking more of a part, Anthony Foley is making progress with his, Rob Henderson took a bit more of a part and Anthony Horgan took a bigger part in the session too," said Kidney.

"They're all making progress, none of them are being ruled out yet and we're not bringing over anyone in the squad of 24 that's perceived to be a passenger," said Kidney.

Not inclined to make excuses either, Kidney maintained that such disruptions are "part and parcel of preparing for any match really. Interestingly, the biggest influence on training this week was actually the weather.

"I know there's a move to get us to play in the summer months but I'm not too sure that I'd see it after the last two days anyway. Even ducks were hiding in the conditions we trained in for the last two days.

"That's probably had the biggest influence on training because once we went out on to the pitch we just had to keep moving from the start to the finish, you couldn't stand around and talk.

"With the rain and the cold it just wasn't conducive to that, but we'll work our way through it."

The 24-man squad from which Munster intend to select their starting line-up and replacements is: Clohessy, Horan, Sheahan, Blaney, Hayes, O'Connell, O'Driscoll, Galwey, O'Callaghan, Quinlan, Wallace, Foley, Williams, Prendergast, Stringer, O'Gara, Holland, Mullins, Henderson, O'Neill, Kelly, Horgan, Staunton and Crotty.

In anticipation of a 40,000-strong invasion by Munster's Red Army to Cardiff - many, perhaps, without a ticket on departure - the team's sponsors Bank of Ireland are again equipping all supporters travelling from Cork, Dublin, and Shannon with thousands of red feather boas, bowler hats, baseball caps, T-shirts and flags.

The Guinness Inteprovincial Trophy has been found in Munster's kit van and belatedly arrived back in Donnybrook yesterday.

Munster had been unable to locate the trophy after Leinster had clinched it with their win in Connacht two weeks ago but now it is under lock and key alongside the inaugural Celtic League trophy, which ironically Leinster had temporarily mislaid themselves in the midst of celebrating their win over Munster in last December's final.