Magners League: Three things to watch

The Magners League hasn’t escaped the clutches of the freezing weather with both Ulster and Connacht’s games called off. Still, we’ve found a few things to look out for in the Magners League this weekend.

By Conor Heneghan

The return of Paul O’Connell

It has been a long nine months in the life of Paul O’Connell. While most professional sportsmen lament the boredom and solitude of time spent on the sidelines due to injuries, you can just imagine that the big fella was positively cracking up at not being able to take to a rugby field for the best part of the last year.

What looked like an innocuous groin injury back in March turned out to be an extremely complicated problem, which involved a nasty sounding infected pubic bone and caused O’Connell to lose a fair bit of weight in the process. After 40 minutes of action with his beloved Young Munster last weekend, however, O’Connell is back, and not before time too.

Mick O’Driscoll and Donncha O’Callaghan have coped fine in the absence of O’Connell, but what he brings to the table in terms of lineout skills, but more importantly, leadership, is invaluable, both for province and country.

With Munster facing into a crucial period in the Heineken Cup and the Six Nations only two months away, O’Connell couldn’t have timed his return better and the roar at Thomond Park when he steps out against Cardiff Blues on Saturday, more than likely from the bench, will be deafening. Good to have you back Paul.

The resurrection of Shane Horgan

The November internationals have taken the focus off the Magners League and the home provinces somewhat, but the form of Shane Horgan for Leinster has certainly made a few people take notice.

JOE columnist Malcolm O’Kelly has certainly been impressed with his old mate’s displays for Leinster and as well as raving about Horgan in our Weekly Maul Podcast, he had this to say about him in his column prior to the Argentina game. (You can read Malcolm's latest column here.)

“Watching Shaggy for Leinster in the Magners League, he’s obviously in fantastic form. Luke Fitzgerald and Rob Kearney look likely to be out of action for a while and it would be great to see Shane pull on the Irish jersey one more time.”

Shaggy touches down against the Dragons

Horgan had been included in the provisional squad for the November internationals, but it quickly became apparent that the likes of Fitzgerald, Kearney, Andrew Trimble, Keith Earls and Tommy Bowe were ahead of him in the pecking order.

He has been vital for his province, however, as they have clawed their way back up the table with four wins from their last five games, and his display against the Dragons a fortnight back which included a brace of tries was particularly impressive.

With Kearney and Fitzgerald set for lengthy spells on the sides, it is not at all inconceivable that Horgan will be in the frame for Ireland come the Six Nations early next year.

The Leinster backline

Sticking with the Leinster theme for a moment, it looks likely that the backline that will line up against the Scarlets this weekend will be the same one that will be pitched into battle in Joe Schmidt’s return to Clermont next week, and, barring a recovery from Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll, again at the Aviva Stadium a week later.

That means that Fergus McFadden will be pushed out to the wing, the versatile Isa Nacewa deputises at full back and Gordon D’Arcy will be partnered in the centre by the inexperienced Eoin O’Malley. McFadden, a centre by trade, will have the unenviable task of quelling the threat of Aurélien Rougerie, who has been in flying form for the French side so far in this campaign.

The set-up isn’t ideal by any means, but there isn’t a team in the world that wouldn’t be affected by the loss of three players of the calibre of O’Driscoll, Fitzgerald and Kearney and the alternative back line looks pretty decent, on paper anyway, considering the circumstances.