O’Connell on the bench for Munster

Paul O’Connell has been named amongst the replacements for Munster’s Magners League clash with the Cardiff Blues this weekend.

O’Connell features in the match-day squad for the first time this season having recovered from a groin injury suffered while on international duty back in March.

Denis Leamy captains a side that shows eleven changes from the team that lost out to the Dragons last weekend, with Irish internationals Keith Earls, Ronan O’Gara, Damien Varley, Tony Buckley, Mick O’Driscoll and Donncha O’Callaghan all returning to the starting line-up.

O’Connell will be accompanied by John Hayes, David Wallace and Tomás O’Leary on an extremely strong replacements bench.

Pitch conditions in Thomond Park remain a concern given the weather conditions, but officials there are still confident that the game will go ahead as planned with the earlier 5pm kick off.

Munster: Johne Murphy; Lifeimi Mafi, Keith Earls, Sam Tuitipou, Denis Hurley; Ronan O'Gara, Peter Stringer; Wian du Preez, Damien Varley, Tony Buckley; Mick O'Driscoll, Donncha O'Callaghan; Alan Quinlan, Niall Ronan, Denis Leamy (captain).

Replacements: Mike Sherry, Donnacha Ryan, John Hayes, Paul O'Connell, David Wallace, Tomás O'Leary, Paul Warwick, Barry Murphy.