Foley To Lead Munster Against The Dragons
In the absence of Paul O’Connell and Ronan O’Gara, 2006 Heineken Cup-winning captain Anthony Foley has been chosen as Munster’s skipper for tomorrow night’s Magners League showdown with the Newport Gwent Dragons (Musgrave Park, kick-off 7.30pm).
Munster coach Declan Kidney has made nine changes to the side that started last week’s Heineken Cup win over Clermont Auvergne for the Dragons’ tie.
Foley takes over from Denis Leamy at number 8 in a pack that shows six changes to the one that took to the field for the Clermont Auvergne game.
However, with the exception of David Wallace (dead leg), John Hayes (neck) and Shaun Payne, all those who featured against Clermont Auvergne will be involved in the matchday 22 for the league visit of the Welshmen.
Denis Hurley, Donnacha Ryan and Niall Ronan, three players who have impressed for their clubs in the AIB League recently, will get timely run-outs ahead of next week’s Munster-Leinster derby clash in Cork and their province’s back-to-back Heineken Cup encounters with Llanelli.
Three of Munster’s nine changes are in the back-line where Hurley takes over from Payne, Kieran Lewis replaces Rua Tipoki and Paul Warwick comes in for Ronan O’Gara – both Tipoki and O’Gara named on a strong looking Munster bench.
Up front there is a complete change in the front row with Federico Pucciariello, Frankie Sheahan and Tony Buckley replacing Marcus Horan (bench), Jerry Flannery (bench) and the injured Hayes.
Shannon’s Donnacha Ryan partners Mick O’Driscoll in the second row with Donncha O’Callaghan named on the bench. David Wallace suffered a dead leg in the Clermont Auvergne game so he sits this one out with Niall Ronan taking over at openside.
Supporters are advised that tickets for the Munster v Newport Gwent Dragons game are very limited. The last 500 tickets will go on sale at Musgrave Park (Dolphin end) from 2pm tomorrow (Saturday) while stocks last.
Please note that there will be 300 adult and 200 school pupil tickets on sale at 2pm on Saturday. Supporters are asked to purchase their match tickets early to avoid disappointment. Please check www.MunsterRugby.ie for updates.
MUNSTER (v Newport Gwent Dragons): Denis Hurley; Brian Carney, Kieran Lewis, Lifeimi Mafi, Ian Dowling; Paul Warwick, Peter Stringer; Federico Pucciariello, Frankie Sheahan, Tony Buckley, Mick O’Driscoll, Donnacha Ryan, Alan Quinlan, Niall Ronan, Anthony Foley (capt).
Replacements: Jerry Flannery, Marcus Horan, Denis Leamy, Donncha O’Callaghan, Gerry Hurley, Ronan O’Gara, Rua Tipoki.