rugby build up
There were no surprises in Munster’s 26-man squad for the Heineken Cup final against Toulouse on Saturday, kick-off 5.00pm. Ronan O’Gara, Doug Howlett and Lifeimi Mafi all came through the double training session at the University of Limerick. Scrum-half Tomas O’Leary is expected to be available for selection despite a hamstring strain. Frederico Pucharello didn’t train because of a stomach bug, while Mick O’Driscoll also sat out the session due to a back strain.
Coach Declan Kidney believes the match will go down to the wire and dismissed all thoughts of Munster as favourites ahead of their fourth appearance in a European final.
He also rejected the notion that French teams don’t travel well and pointed to Toulouse’s recent successes at Lansdown Road, Cardiff and Murrayfield.
The roof will be closed at the Millenium Stadium for the match.
The match-day 22 will be finalised at lunchtime on Friday.
Munster squad v Toulouse, Heineken Cup final, Saturday, 5.00pm:
Forwards: M Horan, F Pucciariello, J Hayes, T Buckley, F Sheahan, J Flannery, P O’Connell, D O’Callaghan, M O’Driscoll, D Ryan, D Wallace, A Quinlan, D Leamy, A Foley.
Backs: P Stringer, T O’Leary, R O’Gara, P Warwick, I Dowling, D Howlett, R Tipoki, K Lewis, L Mafi, B Murphy, K Earls, D Hurley, S Payne.
Toulouse have named a 25 player squad made up of 15 forwards and 10 backs. The centre Manu Ahotaeiloa has returned from injury and has been included in the group.
Forwards - Hasan, Human, Perugini, Servat, Vernet-Basualdo, Albacete, Millo-Chlusky, Pelous, Bouilhou, Dusautoir, Lamboley, Nyanga, Maka, Sowerby.
Backs - Courrent, Elissalde, Kelleher, Ahotaeiloa, Donguy, Heymans, Médard, Fritz, Jauzion, Kunavore.