European Cup News and previews: Munster coach Declan Kidney has named a 27-strong squad for tomorrow's Heineken European Cup clash with Castres Olympique at Thomond Park.
South African centre Trevor Halstead, Ireland wing Anthony Horgan and Tralee-born number eight John O'Sullivan, who all missed the game against Sale Sharks through injury, came through training during the week.
Paul Burke didn't travel to Manchester because of family reasons but is named in the squad for this match.
The injury to hooker Frankie Sheahan will mean a starting role for Shannon's Jerry Flannery with former Ireland under-21 star Denis Fogarty and Frankie Roche vying for a place on the bench.
The team will be named at lunchtime today.
Meanwhile, Leeds director of rugby Phil Davies is to move sideways in a management reshuffle at Headingley which will see a new head coach brought in to take charge of first-team affairs.
Despite a successful 10-year reign in charge, Leeds have yet to win a game this season and sit at the bottom of the English Premiership even though they brought in Justin Marshall and Gordon Bulloch during the summer.
MUNSTER SQUAD: S Payne, J Kelly, A Pitout, A Horgan, B Murphy, T Halstead, G Connolly, J Manning, P Burke, R O'Gara, T O'Leary, P Stringer, M Horan, J Flannery, D Fogarty, J Hayes, F Pucciarriello, F Roche, T Buckley, D O'Callaghan, M O'Driscoll, T Hogan, J O'Sullivan, S Keogh, D Wallace, D Leamy, A Foley (capt).
EuropeanCup: Tonight's matches
Newport Gwent Dragons v Sale Sharks,
Rodney Parade 7.30 Sky Sports
Newport made Castres work hard for last week's win and came into the match strongly towards the end. But this is now win or bust for the Welsh, who face a Sale side that outmuscled Munster in the first round of games. Sale have four points from that match and captain Jason Robinson will rightly travel to Rodney Parade with a win in mind. Sale have brought in weight to the pack so a front-eight battle should characterise the game.
Leeds Tykes v Calvisano,
Headingly Stadium, 8.00
Two teams that desperately need to get a first win in this year's competition. Leeds went down to Cardiff and Calvisano were comfortably beaten by Perpignan last weekend. Home advantage should count for something but the Italians have a strong pack and will be seeking to control the scrums. Leeds played well during the first half last week but slipped disappointingly away after the half-time interval. A full-game performance should see them through.
Perpignan v Cardiff Blues,
Stade Amie Giral, 8.30 Sky Sports
Cardiff's bonus point from last week keeps them on top of the pool as they face the toughest fixture of their group phase. Perpignan are some observers' dark horses for the title and, playing at home, they should be more able than they were in Italy last week. Cardiff improved as their match progressed against Leeds on their way to a 40-point total. In France though they go in as clear underdogs.
- Compiled by JOHNNY WATTERSON
