MUNSTER AND LEINSTER have shown their hands ahead of their Friday night A fixture in Donnybrook (kick-off 19.30).
Coached by Peter Malone, the southern province’s starting line-up is a blend of senior, academy and club players and the group will also provide opposition for Ireland U20 in Cork on 29 December.
Ben Healy will start at out-half, partnered by Neil Cronin. Diarmuid Barron skippers the side from hooker while Josh Wycherley and Keynan Knox complete the front row.
Conor Oliver provides the senior voice in the back row and the openside is joined by Jack O’Sullivan and Gavin Coombes. Alex Wootton will hope to make his mark from the left wing. With Sean French sitting an exam in Cork tomorrow morning, the midfield is made up of Alex McHenry and Jack Delany.
With the 6-2 bench split employed Craig Casey and Harry O’Riordan are the back-line options behind the powerful figures of Thomas Ahern and John Hodnett.
“It’s important for them when they get an opportunity like Friday night to show that they are ready for the step up,” Malone says on Munster’s website.
“That’s what the senior coaches will be looking at. Players like Jack O’Sullivan and Keynan Knox have pushed away in training and gotten some opportunities, it’s important when they play A rugby that they show that they’re really at the level and ready to go in the Pro14.
“For some younger guys then who are getting an opportunity, they need to show that they’re ready to step up as well.”
Leinster, coached by Noel McNamara, will be captained by Scott Penny who is joined in the back row by Mark Hernan and Ronan Watters,
Centre Gavin Mullin, lock Oisin Dowling and props Micheal Milne and Jack Aungier are among the five starters with senior experience for the hosts.
Leinster A
15. Michael Silvester
14. Josh O’Connor
13. Gavin Mullin
12. Tommy O’Brien
11. Andrew Smith
10. Tim Corkery
9. Cormac Foley
1. Michael Milne
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Jack Aungier
4. Brian Deeny
5. Óisín Dowling
6. Mark Hernan
7. Scott Penny
8. Ronan Watters
Replacements
16. John McKee
17. Charlie Ward
18. Roman Salanoa
19. Cian Prendergast
20. Alex Soroka
21. Paddy Patterson
22. David Fitzgibbon
23. Luis Faria
Munster A:
15. Alan Tynan
14. Liam Coombes
13. Alex McHenry
12. Jack Delaney
11. Alex Wootton
10. Ben Healy
9. Neil Cronin
1. Josh Wycherley
2 Diarmuid Barron (Capt)
3. Keynan Knox
4. Darren O’Shea
5. Seán O’Connor
6. Gavin Coombes
7. Conor Oliver
8. Jack O’Sullivan
Replacements:
16. Eoghan Clarke
17. James French
18. Corrie Barrett
19. Thomas Ahern
20. Cian Hurley
21. John Hodnett
22. Craig Casey
23. Harry O’Riordan
Bernard Jackman joined Murray Kinsella and Sean Farrell in studio to chat about the remarkable John Cooney and the Ireland captaincy.
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