O’Connell to lead Reds in Cardiff trip

PAUL O’CONNELL will captain Munster’s final away game of the season against the Cardiff Blues, in the Arms Park this Sunday at 4.35pm.

Thu, 07 May, 2009 - 01:00

The squad includes academy player Conor Murray, and sub academy player Mike Sherry, who is named as cover for Michael Essex as he is involved in the AIB League Final on Saturday in Thomond Park with Shannon.

Meanwhile Connacht have announced a squad of 22 for their final home Magners League game of the season at the Sportsground tomorrow night (7pm).

There are two changes in the squad with Mel Deane called up in the backs and captain John Muldoon returning in the forwards.

Having put both Munster and Leinster to the sword at home so far this season Connacht are looking to achieve a “domestic triple crown” when they take on Ulster, something which head coach Michael Bradley feels is an incentive going into the game.

“We’re looking forward to the match on the basis that we’ve a unique opportunity to have home victories over the three other Irish provinces in the one season, a feat that Connacht rugby have not achieved,” he said.

Andrew Farley will win his 153rd competitive cap for Connacht while Michael Swift will win his 150th.

Ulster head coach Matt Williams has named a 25-man squad to face the Westerners. Williams knows the importance of this game to his side in terms of the league: “We have a lot of respect for Connacht, they are a good side and play a hard game of rugby, but we are more determined than ever and we are going out to win.”

MUNSTER squad v Cardiff: D Hurley; P Warwick; B Carney; D Howlett; B Murphy; K Earls; I Dowling; J Manning; K Lewis; P Stringer; C Murray; M Prendergast; F Pucciariello; M Horan; D Fogarty; M Essex; M Sherry; J Hayes; T Buckley; M O’Driscoll; D O’Callaghan; P O’Connell; N Williams; J Coughlan; N Ronan; D Leamy.

CONNACHT squad: L Bibo, A Browne, F Carr, S Cronin, M Deane, G Duffy, A Dunne, A Farley, A Flavin, D Gannon, I Keatley, R Loughney, K Matthews, B McGovern, J Muldoon, F Murphy, T Nathan, R Ofisa, C O’Loughlin, C Rigney, M Swift, B Wilkinson.

ULSTER (v Connacht)

Backs: I Boss, D Cave, S Danielli, R Dewey, I Humphreys, P Marshall, T Nagusa, N O’Connor, C Schifcofske, P Wallace, I Whitten.

Fowards: R Best, B Botha, N Brady, R Caldwell, T Court, R Diack, E O’Donoghue, W Falloon, S Ferris, C Henry, M McCullough, D Pollock, D Roach, B Young.