Saili To Start For Munster

Munster Head Coach Anthony Foley has named his side to face London Irish in the Kearys Renault Series in Irish Independent Park on Friday night, ko 7pm.

For the second week in a row Foley makes 9 changes to his starting XV in further utilising the pre-season games to trial various combinations.

In the pack John Ryan joins Mike Sherry and Stephen Archer in the front row while John Madigan returns to partner Dave Foley in the second row. Foley is the only forward to start in all three pre-season games.

This week Jordan Coghlan starts at openside joining Dave O’Callaghan and CJ Stander in the backrow with the South African captaining the side once again at number 8.

For the third successive week Foley introduces a different starting 10 with 18-year-old Bill Johnston making his first senior start and joining Cathal Sheridan in the half-backs.

Further changes to the backline see Francis Saili make his first start for the province while Emerging Ireland tourists Rory Scannell and Andrew Conway both make a return to provincial action with Scannell joining Saili in the centre partnership and Conway named at fullback.

The final change sees academy player Stephen Fitzgerald on the wing with Gerhard van den Heever once again holding on to the 11 jersey for his third consecutive start.

The Munster family connections are as strong as ever with two sets of brothers named in the match-day squad – Rory and Niall Scannell from Cork, and Bill and David Johnston from Tipperary.

Munster: Andrew Conway; Stephen Fitzgerald, Francis Saili, Rory Scannell, Gerhard van den Heever; Bill Johnston, Cathal Sheridan; John Ryan, Mike Sherry, Stephen Archer; John Madigan, Dave Foley; Dave O’Callaghan, Jordan Coghlan, CJ Stander Capt.

Replacements from: Niall Scannell, James Cronin, BJ Botha, Donncha O’Callaghan, Robin Copeland, Duncan Williams, Ian Keatley, Shane Monahan, Shane Buckley, Matt D’Arcy, David Johnston.

Munster Rugby look forward to welcoming adidas competition winners to Irish Independent Park tomorrow evening. Fans had the opportunity to be part of the game-day action by having their family crest embroidered on to the sleeve of each player’s jersey through our official retail partners Life Style Sports.

The following 23 prize-winners will see their family crest worn on the jersey tomorrow night:
Michael Geagney, Lily O’Kelly, Andy Ahern, Elaine Duggan, Grace Dowling, Fiona O’Gorman, John Fitzgerald, Patricia O’Shea, Dave Coughlan, Bryan Barrett, Gilian Kane McLoughlin, Joe Fitzgibbon, Damien Grimes, Jack McGarry, Aoife Ryan, Caroline Brophy, Niamh Barron, Helena Buckley, Sean O’Flynn, Anthony Finnegan, Siobhan Keane, Caroline Gauthier, Aaron O’Flynn.

Make sure to come along and get behind the team for the season return to Cork – Full ticket and match-day information can be found here. The game will not be televised and tickets can be purchased on the night.

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