Munster Side to Face Leinster

Alan Gaffney has made four changes to the Munster side ahead of their clash with Leinster this Friday night in Musgrave Park. Shaun Payne has returned from injury and John Kelly is in for Horgan.

Mike Mullins and David Wallace have been ruled out of the Munster team for Friday s Celtic League game against Leinster (Musgrave Park) after each were injured in Naas RFC helping out with Ireland s preparation for the Six Nations clash with France.

First to fall was Mullins who retired injured on Monday after a collision with Kevin Maggs. It subsequently transpired that he had fractured his jaw and will be out of action for up to six weeks. Then, the following day, Wallace picked up a leg injury and he is expected to be out of commission for up to three weeks.

To add to Alan Gaffney s woes, Jeremy Staunton underwent surgery last Monday to correct a troublesome groin and he, like Mullins, is ruled out for six weeks. That leaves the Munster coach making four changes for Friday s clash with Leinster.

In the backs, Shaun Payne is back from in jury and slots into the number 15 berth and John Kelly returns to the side in place of Anthony Horgan who is on international duty.

Up front, Eddie Halvey steps in for Wallace and Jim Williams, having been given a well earned rest last week, returns to anchor the scrum, with Stephen Keogh, number 8 against Borders last week, shifting to blindside flanker. Gaffney has named 9 replacements.

Munster Team to Face Leinster:

Shaun Payne; John Kelly, Jason Jones-Hughes, Rob Henderson, Mossie Lawlor; Jason Holland, Eoin Reddan, Simon Kerr, James Blaney, Gordon McIlwham; Trevor Hogan, David Pusey; Stephen Keogh, Eddie Halvey, Jim Williams capt.

Replacements: Jerry Flannery, Frank Roche, Peter Malone, Tom Hayes, Donal Sheehan, Frank Murphy, Martin McPhail, Conrad O Sullivan.

Munster v Leinster Celtic League Venue: Musgrave Park. Date: Friday February 13th. Kick Off: 7:30pm.