Mullins, Longwell Earn European Recalls

Both Mike Mullins and Gary Longwell have earned recalls for Munster and Ulster’s Heineken Cup homes ties tomorrow. Meanwhile, two tricky games in France await Connacht and Leinster tonight.

MUNSTER (v Castres):

(15) Christian Cullen
(14) Shaun Payne
(13) Mike Mullins
(12) Rob Henderson
(11) Anthony Horgan
(10) Ronan O’Gara
(9) Peter Stringer
(1) Marcus Horan
(2) Frank Sheahan
(3) John Hayes
(4) Donncha O’Callaghan
(5) Paul O’Connell
(6) Alan Quinlan
(7) Denis Leamy
(8) Anthony Foley (Capt)

Replacements:
(16) James Blaney
(17) Gordon McIlwham
(18) Trevor Hogan
(19) Jim Williams
(20) Mike Prendergast
(21) Paul Burke
(22) Mossy Lawlor

ULSTER (v Stade Francais):

(15) Bryn Cunningham
(14) Scott Young
(13) Jonny Bell
(12) Kevin Maggs
(11) Tommy Bowe
(10) David Humphreys
(9) Kieran Campbell
(1) Ronan McCormack
(2) Paul Shields
(3) Rod Moore
(4) Gary Longwell
(5) Matt McCullough
(6) Campbell Feather (Capt)
(7) Neil Best
(8) Roger Wilson

Replacements:
(16) Nigel Brady
(17) Bryan Young
(18) Rowan Frost
(19) Matt Mustchin
(20) Neil Doak
(21) Adam Larkin
(22) Paul Steinmetz

Having scored a record 29 points in last Saturday’s 92-17 over Laurent Seigne’s side, New Zealander David Holwell continues as Leinster fly-half – with a hansdome 98 points behind him in his first seven starts.

Second row Leo Cullen has shaken off a shoulder injury to start, while Ireland international Gordon D’Arcy remains inactive due to his groin injury.

Bourgoin meanwhile, have welcomed back club captain Pierre Raschi – one of nine changes – to their line-up for tonight’s Pool 2 clash at the Stade Pierre Rajon (kick-off 7.30pm, Irish time).

Les Berjalliens will not have learnt much from last weekend’s visit to Dublin – on the end of the heaviest defeat ever to a French side in the Heineken Cup – with Seigne promising a front-foot effort this time.

Kidney, for his part, has demanded another strong performance from his burgeoning Leinster side, one which would see them copperfasten their rank as one of the Heineken Cup’s leading contenders this season.

“We’re lucky we have a fair bit of experience and we want to put that to good use. But, when you have played in Europe for 10 years and won only once in France, it’s time to take stock,” said the Corkman.

“In a sense, it’s a dangerous position to be in and we must recognise that just about everything worked for us. Passes that went to hand the last day might not always work out.

“What pleased me most was the way we created the opportunities. I would say, and I have reminded the players of this, that we are going to have to create chances again and we must be equally as good in our execution.”

LEINSTER (v Bourgoin):

(15) Girvan Dempsey
(14) Shane Horgan
(13) Brian O’Driscoll
(12) Felipe Contepomi
(11) Denis Hickie
(10) David Holwell
(9) Guy Easterby
(1) Reggie Corrigan (Capt)
(2) Shane Byrne
(3) Emmett Byrne
(4) Leo Cullen
(5) Malcolm O’Kelly
(6) Eric Miller
(7) Shane Jennings
(8) Victor Costello

Replacements from:
Ricky Nebbett, Peter Coyle, Gavin Hickie, David Blaney, Ben Gissing, Des Dillon, Ciaran Potts, Aidan McCullen, Brian O’Meara, Gary Brown, Kieran Lewis.

Connacht racked up fifty points (56-3) last Saturday, for the first time in their European travails – an even more impressive display when you consider they were minus the quintet of Mark McHugh, David Slemen, Tom Tierney, Darren Yapp and Matt Lacey.

Montpellier were certainly well below their best, but tonight’s Challenge Cup second round, second leg tie gives them a chance to regain some of their lost pride.

Italian centre Alessandro Stoica looks to be their most notable absentee for the tie at Stade Sabathe (kick-off 6.30pm, Irish time).

With second row Short being rested for what lies ahead – including a probable quarter final date with a Dean Richards-coached Grenoble – South African Myburgh earns his sixth cap.

“The lads are really buoyant after Saturday’s big win and it is important particularly for their confidence as we head into the crucial part of the season,” said coach Michael Bradley, whose side also take on Glasgow, Munster and Ulster in the next three weeks.

“After a run of tough matches, it is no harm to be in this position, but I think we were a little lucky with the bounce of the ball on a few occasions.”

“We want Montpellier to know we are taking the match seriously which might not have been the impression if we had made a lot of changes,” he added.

CONNACHT (v Montpellier):

(15) Matt Mostyn
(14) Ted Robinson
(13) Paul Warwick
(12) James Downey
(11) Conor McPhillips
(10) Eric Elwood
(9) Chris Keane
(1) Ray Hogan
(2) Bernard Jackman
(3) Stephen Knoop
(4) Pieter Myburgh
(5) Andrew Farley (Capt)
(6) Michael Swift
(7) John Muldoon
(8) John O’Sullivan

Replacements:
(16) John Fogarty
(17) Dan McFarland
(18) Peter Bracken
(19) Christian Short
(20) Brendan O’Connor
(21) Conor O’Loughlin
(22) Michael Walls