Munster name newcomer Bowman in side to face Connacht
Bowman, 28, is a surprise inclusion in the side although he has been training with the Munster squad for the last five days as he awaited a work permit clearance.
The Australian international, with 16 caps and a World Cup medal in his trophy cabinet, comes into the side in place of the injured Ireland U-21 international Shane O’Connor, who has a hamstring injury.
Bowman links up with former Wallaby colleague Jim Williams, who this evening captains Munster against Connacht. He has been signed from the Italian outfit Viadana after a proposed move to Zurich Premiership side Worcester fell through.
Munster have been anxiously looking for second row back-up for the entire off-season, following the long-term injury to David Pusey.
Coach Alan Gaffney is in further experimental mood for the Connacht match, pairing Shaun Payne with Jason Holland in the midfield of a strong back division, even though several Irish internationals are still sidelined.
Payne has, arguably, been Gaffney’s best unheralded signing but former New Zealand international Christian Cullen now appears to have turned the corner in his bid to make a huge impact for the province. Cullen hasn’t had much opportunity to show his full class over the last few months but scored a couple of top-notch tries in Munster’s defeat by the Neath/Swansea Ospreys last weekend and will be boosted by that.
Munster face a tough task against Connacht who beat Glasgow comfortably in the opening match of this Celtic League campaign and Connacht coach Michael Bradley will have plenty of allies as he seeks to grab a win back in Cork, his native city. It’s a big weekend for Ireland’s participants in the tournament. Ulster play host to Leinster at Ravenhill earlier today (5.15) and that poses a big challenge for Declan Kidney’s charges.
MUNSTER: C Cullen; J Kelly, S Payne, J Holland, A Horgan; P Burke, M Prendergast; F Roche, J Flannery, G McIlwham; S O’Connor, T Hogan; S Keogh, D Leamy, J Williams capt. Replacements. J Blaney, E McGovern, D Ryan, J O’Connor, E Reddan, J Storey, R Henderson.
CONNACHT: D. Slemen, T. Robinson, M. Mostyn, N. O’Brien, C. McPhillips, P. Warwick, T. Tierney, A. Clarke, J. Fogarty, P. Bracken, C. Short, A. Farley, J. Muldoon, M. Lacey, J. O’Sullivan .Replacements: H. Bourke, S. Knoop, M. carroll, P. Neville, C. O’Loughlin, E. Elwood, J. Meagher.
ULSTER: B. Cunningham, T. Bowe, J. Bell, P. Steinmetz, A. Maxwell, P. Wallace, N. Doak, S. Best, P. Shields, R. Moore, M. Mustchin, R. Frost, A. Ward, N. Best, R. Wilson. Replacements. N. Brady, R. McCormack, M. McCullough, C. Feather, K. Campbell, S. Mallon, S. Young.
LEINSTER: J. Norton, J. McWeeney, C. Warner, D. Quinlan, G. Brown, D. McAllister, B. O’Meara, E. Byrne, G. Hickie, P. Coyle, L. Cullen, B. Gissing, A. McCullen, S. Jennings, D. Dillon. Replacements. R. Nebbett/A. O’Donnell, D. Blaney, C. Potts, V. Costello, B. O’Riordan, K. Lewis, C. O’Shea.
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