Ronan O’Mahony Comes In As Only Change For Munster ‘A’

The Munster ‘A’ team to play the Ospreys Premiership Select at Irish Independent Park on Friday night (kick-off 7.45pm) has been named by head coach Peter Malone.

A win in Cork will see the current British & Irish Cup holders, who sit two points behind Pool 1 leaders Bedford Blues, secure a place in the quarter-finals of the cross-border competition.

There is just one change to the side that won 17-12 in Nottingham as Ronan O’Mahony comes in at full-back for his first start since returning from a fractured fibula injury. Fellow long-term injury absentees, Dave O’Callaghan and Dan Goggin, are both named among the replacements.

Calvin Nash, who signed a Munster development contract last week, and Stephen Fitzgerald line up on the wings. Captain David Johnston moves from full-back to start alongside Shane Daly in the centre, with the half-back pairing of Bill Johnston and James Hart unchanged.

In an unchanged pack, Mike Sherry starts at hooker with Jeremy Loughman and Brian Scott on either side of the front row. Fineen Wycherley, who also signed a development contract with the province last week, is partnered by Gerbrandt Grobler in the second row, while the back row trio of Sean O’Connor, Conor Oliver and Gavin Coombes keep hold of their places.

Duncan Casey and Ciaran Parker provide the front row cover, with Sean McCarthy and O’Callaghan the other reserve forwards, and backs John Poland, Conor Fitzgerald, who kicked the match-winning penalty away to Nottingham, and Goggin complete the replacements.

Entry to the Munster ‘A’ v Ospreys Premiership Select clash is free for all Munster 10-Year/Season Ticket holders and Munster Rugby Supporters Club members on production of membership cards or tickets books. Match tickets can also be purchased online here.

MUNSTER ‘A’ (v Ospreys Premiership Select): Ronan O’Mahony; Calvin Nash, Shane Daly, David Johnston (capt), Stephen Fitzgerald; Bill Johnston, James Hart; Jeremy Loughman, Mike Sherry, Brian Scott, Fineen Wycherley, Gerbrandt Grobler, Sean O’Connor, Conor Oliver, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Duncan Casey, Ciaran Parker, Sean McCarthy, Dave O’Callaghan, John Poland, Conor Fitzgerald, Dan Goggin.