Munster A Squad Named

Munster A Head Coach Peter Malone has named a vastly experienced starting XV for the trip to Stirling County in tomorrow’s crucial B&I Cup game.

Malone has made four changes to the side that beat Nottingham with a try bonus-point last Friday at St. Mary’s with the majority of the team having played PRO12 rugby.

Hooker Niall Scannell comes into the side and props Alan Cotter and John Ryan complete the front row. Billy Holland, who missed out last week through illness, joins Ian Nagle in the second row.

CJ Stander replaces Paddy Butler at number 8 and joins Dave O’Callaghan and Captain Barry O’Mahony in the back row.

Cian Bohane comes into the side next to Denis Hurley in the centres, with Ivan Dineen dropping out with an ankle injury sustained against Nottingham.

The Cork Con half-back combination of academy out-half Johnny Holland and scrum-half Gerry Hurley remains intact.

Ronan O’Mahony, who has scored five tries in five B&I Cup games this season, starts at full-back with academy player Darren Sweetnam and South African Gerhard van den Heever, who scored two tries last week, on the wings.

Munster academy players Niall Horan, Darren O’Shea, Shane Buckley, Brian Haugh, Rory Scannell and Niall Kenneally are amongst the replacements along with Young Munster's Ger Slattery. It will be Horan’s British and Irish Cup debut if he is sprung from the bench.

A win for Munster A would be enough to secure qualification for the quarter finals, either as group winners or one of the best second-placed sides, depending on the result in Plymouth.

Munster A travel to Stirling County on Saturday with a 2pm kick-off, you can follow live updates here.

Munster A: Ronan O'Mahony; Darren Sweetnam, Cian Bohane, Denis Hurley, Gerhard van den Heever; Johnny Holland, Gerry Hurley; Alan Cotter, Niall Scannell, John Ryan; Ian Nagle, Billy Holland; Dave O'Callaghan, Barry O'Mahony (Capt.), CJ Stander. Replacements: Ger Slattery, Niall Horan, Darren O'Shea, Shane Buckley, Brian Haugh, Rory Scannell, Niall Kenneally.