Munster v La Rochelle

Mick O'Driscoll, Niall Ronan and Marcus Horan, who all played in Ireland's game against Scotland last Saturday have been released back to Munster and will travel with the squad to France tomorrow for a training camp that concludes with the first of three pre-season matches.

Declan Kidney has also said that he hopes to use some Munster (and other provinces) games to give game time to players returning from injuries.

However rather than the big men it is the fringe players that I am intrigued by. Ireland U20 centre JJ Hanrahan has been named in the squad and I think can really stake a claim to getting good game time this year. Keatley - Hanrahan as a 10-12 pairing is a type of creative axis I can't ever remember Munster having. Exciting times lie ahead.

In the pack it is Peter "the Project" Borlase who could do well with Hayes and Buckley out of the way. In the second row Ian Nagle needs to overcome second season syndrome and show us all he can challenge the status quo of O'Callaghan and O'Connell in the coming seasons. The promising Peter O'Mahony who hasn't got as many senior games as his fans would suggest, gets a chance to shine.

Looking forward to hearing how all get on.

Munster Squad: D Hurley, S Zebo, D Howlett, J Murphy, S Deasy, JJ Hanrahan, D Barnes, L Mafi, I Keatley, D Cusack, G Hurley, P Stringer, D Williams, D Hurley, W du Preez, BJ Botha, M Horan, P Borlase, S Archer, D Varley, D Fogarty, M Sherry, M O'Driscoll, I Nagle, Dave O'Callaghan, P Butler, B Holland, N Ronan, J Coughlan, T O'Donnell, P O'Mahony.

What are peoples thoughts on the game.

No Murray? Interesting, I wonder if he's likely to win his first cap at the weekend, then?

I suppose Keatley will be able to settle in better with Stringer as his partner, though, so good call.

I'm interested to see Gerry Hurley there who is a complete backup. Maybe Stringer is on standby?

What team would you go for in this game?

So they have Hurley, Stringer and Williams to choose from? Typical show-off Munster with their talent overkill!

Anyway, La Rochelle? That seems like a very strange choice. It'll be good for their gate receipts, I suppose.

Interesting to see Dave O'Callaghan there. He's a guy that can play either lock or back row. Quite a dynamic player who strangely enough likes to take the ball on the run and can cause trouble that way.

After talking up Borlase, thinking about it I wouldn't play him. I'd go for:

01 Wian du Preez
02 Damien Varley
03 Stephen Archer
04 Mick O'Driscoll
05 Ian Nagle
06 Tommy O'Donnell
07 Peter O'Mahony
08 James Coughlan
09 Peter Stringer
10 Ian Keatley
11 Denis Hurley
12 JJ Hanrahan
13 Lifeimi Mafi
14 Johne Murphy
15 Scott Deasy

16 Mike Sherry
17 Marcus Horan
18 BJ Botha
19 Dave O'Callaghan
20 Paddy Butler
21 Duncan Williams
22 Declan Cusack
23 Danny Barnes

I'd like to see Zebo get a chance.

I'd be looking at a back 3 of Zebo, Howlett and Hurley in the next match. Or maybe play Zebo instead of Murphy.