THIS WASN’T PART of the plan for Andrew Conway when he decided to make the move from Leinster to Munster during the summer.
While the 22-year-old still has years of time on his side, the injury to Simon Zebo last weekend would have boosted Conway’s hopes of a first Heineken Cup appearance for his new province. However, his inclusion in the Munster A side to take on Nottingham County at Bandon RFC tomorrow (8pm) means Conway will have to wait on that milestone.
Long seen as a potential senior international player, Conway ended his time at Leinster in excellent form, with a hat-trick against the Ospreys at the RDS in May sticking in the memory. Indeed, that late-season form meant many Leinster fans were disappointed to see the former Blackrock man leaving.
The plan was to feature more prominently in the first team at Munster, but so far that hasn’t happened. Conway has started two games, and it is still early days in Conway’s time with the province, but the injury to Zebo will surely have led to the winger to believe he would have a chance to launch himself onto the European scene.
Instead, he will have to keep impressing at ‘A’ level and hope his opportunity comes around in a big game soon.
Head coach Peter Malone has made four changes to the Munster A team after the win over Stirling County last weekend. Scrum-half Duncan Williams starts, with Cathal Sheridan moving onto the Heineken Cup bench, while Johnny Holland gets the nod at out-half. Duncan Casey and John Ryan also come into the starting XV.
Meanwhile, the Ulster Ravens have also made four changes to their team ahead of tomorrow night’s clash with Jersey RFC at Ravenhill (7.30pm).
Ian Porter starts at scrum-half, while Chris Taylor and Michael Crombie come into the front row. Sean Doyle is a new face at openside flanker.
Munster A (v Nottingham): Ronan O’Mahony; Andrew Conway, Ivan Dineen, Cian Bohane, Darren Sweetnam; Johnny Holland, Duncan Williams; Alan Cotter, Duncan Casey, John Ryan; Billy Holland (Capt), Dave Foley; Dave O’Callaghan, Sean Dougall, Shane Buckley.Replacements: Niall Scannell, Paddy Ryan, Darren O’Shea, Barry O’Mahony, Brian Haugh, Rory Scannell, Niall Kenneally.
Ulster Ravens (v Jersey RFC): David McIlwaine; Chris Cochrane, Ricky Andrew, Chris Farrell, Peter Nelson; James McKinney, Ian Porter; Chris Taylor, Niall Annett (Capt), Michael Crombie; Alan O’Connor, Neil McComb; Conor Joyce, Sean Doyle, Mike McComish.Replacements: J Murphy, M McGrath, M Rea, F Taggart, M Heaney, S McCloskey, D Busby.
