Munster A Squad To Face Nottingham

The Munster A squad to face Nottingham County in round 2 of the British and Irish Cup has been named with four changes to the starting XV that defeated Stirling County in Bandon RFC last Saturday.

Head Coach Peter Malone starts with new half-backs this week as Duncan Williams and Johnny Holland are both added to the side. Duncan who found himself on the wing as a replacement against Edinburgh last Saturday takes the place of Cathal Sheridan, while Johnny Holland returns to the side after recovering from a groin injury with Rory Scannell moving to the bench.

The front row changes include Duncan Casey coming straight in to the squad and John Ryan starting ahead of Paddy Ryan this week.

Fittingly Billy Holland will captain the side on Friday night after previously leading the Munster A side out at Meadow Lane in January 2011, when they narrowly defeated the home-side by a point.

Nottingham opened their B&I Cup account with a 28-9 defeat away to Plymouth Albion last week but Head Coach Peter Malone knows tomorrow night’s game will present a different challenge, “It is tough going to Nottingham and playing them at their home ground. They are a physical team and we’ve to match that physicality away from home.

Last weekend’s score-line against Plymouth doesn’t reflect the quality that was played and we need to be wary as we are expecting a backlash, and a side always wants to perform in front of their home support.”

B&I Cup Round 2: Nottingham County v Munster A, Meadow Lane, Friday October 18th, ko 8pm.

Munster A: 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.

Nottingham: Rory Lynn, Henry Purdy, George Catchpole, Joe Munro, Edward Styles, Matthew Jarvis, Sean Romans, Ryan Bower, Jon Vickers, Michael Holford, Tom Price, Dan Montagu, Rupert Cooper, Brent Wilson Capt., Tom Calladine Replacements: Campese Ma'afu, Alun Walker, Harry Williams, Joe Burton, Alex Shaw, Harrison Lee-Everton, Finlay Barnham.