CAPTAIN OF THE most recent British and Irish Lions tour, Paul O’Connell could take a big stride towards a trip to Australia after being named in the Munster A starting XV for tomorrow’s meeting with Leinster A.
Kick-off in the University of Limerick will be at 2pm and entry will be free. The game will herald the Ireland lock’s first action since facing Edinburgh in the Heineken Cup.
Since then – and before – O’Connell has been sidelined with an injury to his lower back.
The hope now, is that the Munster stalwart can get back into high gear in time to help Munster’s Heineken Cup campaign.
With Leinster also nursing Quinn Roux back to fitness, the exercise will certainly prove to be useful.
The game will also see opportunities for Niall Ronan and Sean Dougall, while there will be a youthful duel among the out-halves as JJ Hanrahan will stand opposite Cathal Marsh.
Munster A: Johne Murphy; Luke O’Dea, Danny Barnes, Ivan Dineen, Ronan O’Mahony; JJ Hanrahan, Cathal Sheridan; James Cronin, Sean Henry, John Ryan; Dave Foley, Paul O’Connell; Niall Ronan, Sean Dougall, CJ Stander.Replacements: Marcus Horan, Duncan Casey, Niall Scannell, Kevin Griffin, Brian Hayes, Dave O’Callaghan, Brian Slater, Scott Deasy, Cian Bohane, Corey Hircock, Sean Scanlon, Johnny Holland.
Leinster A: Noel Reid; Andrew Boyle, Jordan Coghlan, Colm O’Shea, Sam Coghlan-Murray; Cathal Marsh, John Cooney: Jack O’Connell, Aaron Dundon, Martin Moore; Mark Flanagan, Quinn Roux; Ben Marshall, Conor Gilsenan, Leo Auva’a.
Replacements: James Tracy, Jack McGrath, Tadhg Furlong, Tadhg Beirne, Dan Leavy, Adam Griggs, Fionn Carr, Andrew Conway, David Doyle.
