New Caps In Galway

While the Munster pack has a familiar ring to it there are three of the backline who will be making their senior competitive debut on Sunday in the crucial Magners League game against Connacht at The Sportsground.

Under 20 international wings Simon Zebo and  Danny Barnes and Thomond’s Declan Cusack are named in the side that will be led by Mick O’Driscoll for the trip to Galway.

The opportunity presents itself because of the injury situation among the backs in the Munster squad that sees Denis Hurley, Doug Howlett, Ian Dowling, Keith Earls Jean de Villiers and Barry Murphy all nursing injuries of varying degrees but in pre season and British & Cup games the backline trio have shown what they’re capable of and Sunday’s step up is well within their capabilities.

Zebo was a regular on this year’s internations 20s Championship winning side while Barnes was called into the U20s squad last summer for the World Cup in Japan as was replacement scrum-half for Sunday, Conor Murray.

Declan Cusack has been director of operations on Anthony Foley’s Britist & Irish Cup side playing a crucial part in their march to the semi-final.

Paul Warwick and Peter Stringer provide the wily presence in the backs, with Warwick at inside centre alongside Tom Gleeson and Scott Deasy at full-back.

Munster: Scott Deasy; Simon Zebo, Tom Gleeson, Paul Warwick, Danny Barnes; Declan Cusack, Peter Stringer; Dave Ryan, Damien Varley, Tony Buckley; Mick O’Driscoll capt; Billy Holland; Nick Williams, Niall Ronan, James Coughlan. Replacements: Denis Fogarty, Julien Brugnaut, Dave Foley, Peter O’Mahoney, Conor Murray, Jeremy Manning, Sean Scanlon.