International Trio Available For Munster’s Belfast Trip

Ronan O’Gara, Keith Earls and Conor Murray will all be named in the Munster squad when it is confirmed later this week for the interprovincial match against Ulster at Ravenhill on Friday (kick-off 7.05pm).

Donncha O’Callaghan is also expected to be included having missed last weekend’s win over Benetton Treviso, while Niall Ronan will also travel north though it is thought he is more likely to feature in the ‘A’ game at Deramore Park that takes place on Friday.

O’Callaghan swopped the Munster dressing room for the maternity ward of Cork University Hospital last Friday where his wife Jenny gave birth to their second child.

Fit-again flanker Ronan was scheduled to play for club side Shannon last Saturday but their game was called off.

Meanwhile, already two RaboDirect PRO12 appearances into his Munster career, Casey Laulala is enjoying life with the province and is in a positive frame of mind after wins over Edinburgh and Treviso. 

“I look at Munster as similar to the Crusaders back at home. I was blessed enough to be part of such a successful era in the Crusaders. And I just saw so many similarities between the two clubs,” he told the province’s website.

“Obviously I came and visited and met the boys and from then on I wanted to be part of it. Want to be part of the legacy and obviously try create my own history as well.”

The New Zealander’s effective centre partnership with James Downey has been one of the early season positives for Munster, but he is well aware that a stern test awaits Rob Penney’s men at Ravenhill on Friday.

“Ulster are a very good side. The crowd is a big factor especially up there and they’ve been a big factor in their success the last few years,” added Laulala.

“We’re aware of that. We’re preparing for a big match and I think it’ll be the first really big test for us as well in terms of what we want to do.”