Squad Update

Cork and Limerick based players gathered in their respective centres this morning in beginning two weeks of preparations for Cardiff Blues in Round 4 of the Guinness PRO12 on Saturday week. A number of players will also hope to win some game time in the season’s first ‘A’ Interprovincial this week.

Munster ‘A’
Mick O’Driscoll’s Munster ‘A’ side commence Interprovincial action away to Leinster ‘A’ on Wednesday evening – KO 5pm in Donnybrook – with the Head Coach expected to include talent from the senior, academy and club ranks. O’Driscoll will name his side tomorrow afternoon.

Munster v Glasgow Warriors
Following Munster’s 23-21 victory over Glasgow Warriors on Friday night, Anthony Foley’s side remain third on the Guinness PRO12 table with just points difference keeping them behind Scarlets and Edinburgh who lie in first and second respectively.

Felix Jones was only injury concern following the Round 3 clash with the full-back leaving the field on 38 minutes after sustaining a knock to his neck. Jones did not return to the field of play and continues to be assessed by Munster medical staff.

Club Involvement
A number of senior players featured in this weekend’s AIL action with Kevin O’Byrne (UL Bohemian), Shane Buckley (Garryowen), Cian Bohane (Dolphin) and Darren Sweetnam (Cork Constitution) all appearing for their respective clubs.

This week’s academy involvement included JP Phelan, Steven McMahon, Conor Oliver and Alex Wootton for Garryowen; Rory Burke, Tomás Quinlan, Ryan Foley, Ned Hodson and Liam O’Connor for Cork Constitution; Stephen Fitzgerald for Shannon and Ben Kilkenny for Young Munster.

Amongst the weekend’s scorers included Sweetnam who crossed for Cork Cons’ only try in their 19-19 draw with UCD at Temple Hill, with the academy’s Quinlan kicking four penalties and a conversion for the hosts.

Academy full-back McMahon touched down for Garryowen in their one point defeat away to Terenure College at Lakelands Park.

One the injury front, academy second row John Madigan sustained a knee injury when introduced in Dolphin’s loss to Old Wesley at Irish Independent Park and will be reviewed by Munster medical staff this week.


Rugby World Cup 2015
At the Rugby World Cup, Munster’s Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray, Keith Earls and Simon Zebo all started in Ireland’s 16-9 win over Italy, a victory that ensured their qualification for the knockout stages of the tournament. Ireland now face France in the Pool D decider on Sunday at 4.45pm with Joe Schmidt to name his side to face the French at lunchtime on Friday.

Meanwhile, yesterday’s action also saw Keith Earls score his eighth Rugby World Cup try and eclipse Brian O’Driscoll in becoming Ireland’s leading try scorer in the tournament’s history.