Munster v Toulouse - Preview

Munster have been boosted by the return of captain Peter O'Mahony for Saturday's Heineken Cup quarter-final against Toulouse at Thomond Park.

The flanker has recovered from a hamstring injury and replaces CJ Stander while James Downey is back at centre in the only other change.

A foot injury rules out lock Donnacha Ryan, who missed Ireland's Six Nations campaign because of a knee problem.

Louis Picamoles has been declared fit to start at number eight for Toulouse.

But former All Black Luke McAlister, another injury doubt, has been named among the replacements, along with France flanker Yannic Nyanga, while Thierry Dustautoir remains absent after missing the Six Nations because of a biceps injury.

O'Mahony was named in the squad to face Leinster in last weekend's Pro 12 defeat in Dublin but was a last minute withdrawal because of a hamstring twinge.

After successfully following a modified training schedule this week, the talismanic back-rower is included in Rob Penney's starting XV.

John Ryan takes the place of James Cronin, who is sidelined with an ankle sprain, on the replacements bench.

Alan Cotter and Gerhard van den Heeverare are both named in their first match-day Heineken Cup squad.

Dave Foley is selected ahead of Donncha O'Callaghan to join Paul O'Connell in the second row.

O'Connell believes the four-times competition winners will not be intimidated by the renowned Thomond Park atmosphere in Saturday's game.

It will be the first time the French giants have played at the Limerick venue.

"It's amazing that it's the first time they've come here but they've been to plenty of hostile grounds in the past so I don't think it will be a big deal for them," added the Ireland captain.

O'Connell says the Irish province will be facing a "mammoth task" against Guy Noves's team.

Munster: F Jones; K Earls, C Laulala, J Downey, S Zebo, I Keatley, C Murray, D Kilcoyne, D Varley, BJ Botha, D Foley, P O'Connell, P O'Mahony (capt), T O'Donnell, J Coughlan.

Replacements: D Casey, J Ryan, A Cotter, D O'Callaghan, CJ Stander, D Williams, JJ Hanrahan, G van den Heever.

Toulouse: M Médard; Y Huget, F Fritz, G Fickou, H Gear; L Beauxis, J Vermaak; G Steenkamp, C Tolofua, Y Montes, Y Maestri, P Albacete (c), Y Camara, J Tekori, L Picamoles

Replacements: J Bregvadze, C Baille, S Ferreira, R Millo-Chluski, G Galan, J-M Doussain, L McAlister, Y Nyanga.

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O'Mahony Gives Way to O'Brien

Declan Kidney sticks to his plans as Peter O’Mahony makes way for Seán O’Brien in the only change to the Ireland team for the final RV+BS Six Nations clash against England at Twickenham on Saturday.

The Munster man made his first start against Scotland last weekend and impressed at openside flanker, but O’Brien’s recovery from a skin infection in his foot means he has been brought back into the position he filled for the first three games of the campaign. Shane Jennigs drops out the squad to accomodate the change. 

“Absolutely, it’s a tough call on Peter,” admitted Kidney this afternoon. “I thought he played really well (against Scotland). He coped with the pressure of starting, which is a little but different to coming on as a replacement.

“I’ve always said, there’s no problem with who to pick, it’s who not to pick. Peter, along with several others, who have been training extraordinarily well with us over the last few weeks are unfortunate enough to lose out, but that’s a compliment to the lads who have been playing. They’ve been doing well.”

The opposition, said Kidney, have “been improving every match”.

He added: “They were unlucky to lose to Wales with a last minute score and all you have to do us look at the rankings, they are the fourth best team in the world right now.

“We have a cup final on Saturday against England. That’s the way we see each game, it’s a one-off game.”

Keith Earls and Cian Healy will both win their 30th caps at outside centre and loosehead prop respectively, while hooker Rory Best will once again captain the side in the continued absences of Paul O’Connell and Brian O’Driscoll. 

Best, in fact, will become Ireland's most capped hooker ahead of Keith Wood, whose record of 58 he equalled last weekend. 

England's interim coach Stuart Lancaster will name his side on Thursday.Ireland (v England): 

R Kearney; T Bowe, K Earls, G D’Arcy, A Trimble; J Sexton, E Reddan; C Healy, R Best (capt), M Ross; D O’Callaghan, D Ryan; S Ferris, S O’Brien, J Heaslip. Replacements: S Cronin, T Court, M McCarthy, P O’Mahony, T O’Leary, R O’Gara, F McFadden

O'Mahony Starts Against Scotland

Ireland flanker Sean O'Brien will miss the Six Nations game against Scotland because of a skin infection on his foot which has failed to clear up in time.

Peter O'Mahony will now move from the replacements to start at number seven, with Shane Jennings taking O'Mahony's place on the bench.

Ulster hooker Rory Best will lead the team after being passed fit.

Best sustained a rib injury in the draw against France but scans revealed no major damage.

He takes over the captaincy from the injured Paul O'Connell who is replaced at lock by Donnacha Ryan.

The other change from the game in Paris sees Eoin Reddan replacing injured Conor Murray at scrum-half.

O'Connell, who has led Ireland in the Six Nations so far this year, and Murray are out of the rest of the tournament.

Lock O'Connell is likely to be out for around six weeks because of a medial ligament injury.

Murray sustained bruising to a knee joint against the French and will be out of action for around three weeks.

Connacht forward Mike McCarthy and Munster scrum-half Tomas O'Leary, who were added to the Irish squad as cover because of the injuries suffered by O'Connell and Murray, have been named in the replacements.

Best previously captained Ireland on the 2009 summer tour of North America when Brian O'Driscoll and O'Connell were unavailable because of their Lions tour commitments.

However, Saturday's game will be the first time that Best has skippered Ireland in a Six Nations encounter.

Ulster hooker Best described being handed the captaincy as a "great honour".

"It's something growing up that you dream of," added Best.

"It's very unfortunate what has happened to Paulie (Paul O'Connell) but I was obviously very honoured when Declan [Kidney, coach] asked me to captain the side.

"We know we'll have to be on the money against Scotland. It will be a massive challenge for our defence."

Best added that he had trained fully on Wednesday morning after undergoing a precautionary scan on Tuesday.

Keith Earls (groin) and Donncha O'Callaghan (ankle) picked up knocks against France but are expected to be fit for Saturday's match.

Kidney said that he had no hesitation in picking Ryan and Reddan to replace the injured duo.

"Donnacha and Eoin have been doing a lot of work with us over the past few weeks and will get their chance now," added Kidney.

"Donnacha was probably unlucky not to get starting in earlier games when we opted to pick Donncha O'Callaghan alongside Paul O'Connell."

Ireland: Rob Kearney; Tommy Bowe, Keith Earls, Gordon D'Arcy, Andrew Trimble; Jonathan Sexton, Eoin Reddan; Cian Healy, Rory Best (capt), Mike Ross; Donncha O'Callaghan, Donnacha Ryan; Stephen Ferris, Peter O'Mahony, Jamie Heaslip.

Replacements: Sean Cronin, Tom Court, Mike McCarthy, Shane Jennings, Tomas O'Leary, Ronan O'Gara, Fergus McFadden.