Munster A Named For Moseley Encounter

Munster A Head Coach Mick O’Driscoll has named his 22-man squad to face Moseley in Saturday’s British & Irish Cup opener in Clonmel RFC, ko 3pm.

Munster A last opened their BI& Cup campaign in Clonmel RFC in November 2011 against Cornish Pirates and coincidentally current Munster A Head Coach Mick O’Driscoll made his Munster A debut that very night.

“I made my A debut at the age of 32 alongside Peter Stringer in Clonmel. We both needed game time and ended up making our A debuts together. We lost against Cornish Pirates after they were awarded a penalty try in the last minute of the game.”

O’Driscoll will be looking for a different outcome on this occasion as his side gets set to face English Championship side Moseley RFC who are coached by former Irish international Kevin Maggs.

“We are fielding a good blend of young guys and the more experienced senior squad members. It’s important that these guys get some game time and put in a performance because we want to be competing in the latter stages of the competition.

“I’ve seen a good bit of Moseley. They are a good side who are struggling a bit in the Championship which is always dangerous because you know they are due a performance. They are like any English side – big, physical and upfront.”

With players promoted to the PRO12 squad for tonight’s Scarlet’s encounter O’Driscoll is forced to reshuffle his squad from last weekend’s Interpro victory against Leinster and makes 7 changes to the starting XV.

Alan Cotter and Rory Burke retain their places in the front row and are joined by Max Abbott who featured as a replacement hooker last Saturday, while in the second row Sean McCarthy stays put and is paired with Shane Buckley who makes the positional switch from blind-side.

Tipperary native Paddy Butler is added to the squad this week and starts alongside Barry O’Mahony and Jack O’Donoghue who both lead from the back-row last weekend. O’Donoghue will once again captain the side from number 8.

Rory Scannell moves from inside centre to out-half and joins Cathal Sheridan in the half-back pairing while Luke O’Dea keeps his place on the wing in an otherwise changed back-line.

Young academy player Stephen Fitzgerald makes his B&I Cup debut at fullback, while Cork Con centre and former academy player Niall Kenneally joins Dan Goggin in the mid-field pairing with academy winger Greg O’Shea also lining out for his first B&I Cup appearance.

In the replacements O’Driscoll has called on the services of Cork Con hooker Andrew O’Driscoll and out-half Tomas Quinlan, while Midleton prop and former contracted player Christy Condon is also included.

Munster A: Stephen Fitzgerald; Luke O’Dea, Dan Goggin, Niall Kenneally, Greg O’Shea; Rory Scannell, Cathal Sheridan; Alan Cotter, Max Abbott, Rory Burke; Shane Buckley, Sean McCarthy; Paddy Butler, Barry O’Mahony, Jack O’Donoghue (Capt.).

Replacements: Andrew O’Driscoll, Christy Condon, Darragh Moloney, Ryan Murphy, Jamie Glynn, Tomas Quinlan, Alex Wootton.

Munster A v Moseley, British & Irish Cup Round 1, Clonmel RFC, Saturday October 11th, ko 3pm.

Supporter Information:

Tickets available on match-day from the grounds – €;10 for adults, €;3 for kids and €;20 for families (2 adults & 2 children).

Free entry to all MRSC members and Ten Year Ticket holders (on production of your membership card or ticket book).

Parking – Public parking available in Boston Scientific and Abbott next to Clonmel RFC. (On Cashel Road, north of the pitch)

Gates open at 1.30pm.