Micko will lead Munster

MICK O’DRISCOLL will captain Munster when they take on Harlequins A in London on Monday in a warm-up game for their historic clash with New Zealand on November 18.

Denis Leamy, who scored a try for Cork Con on his comeback from shoulder reconstruction last weekend, is named at number eight in a back row that also includes James Coughlan and Niall Ronan.

Paul Warwick, who filled the full-back role so adroitly in the Heineken Cup win at Sale Sharks last month, is back in the number 15 jersey, while the Kiwi centre partnership of Rua Tipoki and Lifeimi Mafi is reunited for the clash at The Stoop.

Jeremy Manning gets a rare run at out-half, while in the pack, academy prop Dave Ryan of Dolphin has also earned a starting spot.

Fellow academy player, scrum-half Conor Murray, is on the bench, as is development backrower Billy Holland.

Harlequins currently lie second in Pool 3 of the Premiership A League, their latest victory over leaders London Wasps leaving them on the same points as their London rivals.

MUNSTER: P Warwick; D Howlett, R Tipoki, L Mafi, A Horgan; J Manning, M Prendergast; F Pucciariello, D Fogarty, T Ryan; M O’Driscoll capt, D Ryan; J Coughlan, N Ronan, D Leamy.

Replacements: F Sheahan, Dave Ryan, M Melbourne, B Holland, C Murray, K Lewis, Denis Hurley.