What's causing the delay is the fact that in addition to those players who will be involved in the Ireland RBS Six Nations on Sunday, four more, forwards Mick O'Driscoll and Donnacha Ryan and backs Denis Hurley and Johne Murphy, are also involved in preparation for the French game and therefore unable to take any part in Munster's preparation for Sunday's game in Treviso.

In addition there is also the possibility that Tony Buckley may be considered for Munster duty while Denis Fogarty and Marcus Horan are both returning from injury and can also come into the mix for consideration.

It may well be that O'Driscoll, Ryan, Hurley and Murphy will join the rest of the Munster squad on Saturday at Dublin Airport where the squad fly and return to.

Meanwhile, Ireland will name their side for the game against France at lunchtime today. Yesterday they decided that it would be Friday before they could name their side as they waited on one player who will definitely feature and one player who won't,  but shortly after announced that in fact they could go ahead today as planned.