Munster’s youth to swim with Sharks
The emphasis is very much on experimentation through the younger brood of players, and while Sale will also field an experimental team there is a more experienced look about a side that will be captained by English out-half Charlie Hodgson.
The visiting pack will be bolstered by seasoned players, English and Welsh internationals respectively, Chris Jones and Brent Cockbain in the second row, while Chris Bell, Lee Thomas, Spanish international Oriol Ripol and, to a lesser extent, Nick MacLeod, boast a much bigger degree of competitive experience than Munster.
Nine of the Munster starting team named to play against old Heineken Cup rivals will be making debuts, although winger Danny Riordan (Connacht), hooker Damien Varley (London Wasps) and short-term contract player Toby Morland (Waikato Chiefs) have broader experience than most; it will certainly be interesting to see how much fitness progress the much-heralded back row signing of last year – Nick Williams, has made over the summer.
Paul Warwick captains a side that includes Academy and sub-Academy players; two former Academy members, Billy Holland and Tom Gleeson, have been given full contracts and are both named in the team.
Two other Munster Academy products, Dave Ryan and Tommy O’Donnell, now on development contracts with the squad, also feature and after a week’s training in the sun in Portugal, coach McGahan is confident his charges will give a good account of themselves.
“It’s by and large a young squad, although there are a few wise heads among them. The internationals and Churchill Cup players are not available to us while Doug (Howlett) and Lifeimi (Mafi) are carrying littles niggles. Nothing serious, but it means we have had to rest them.”
But if Munster lack experience, there is a lot to play for as emphasised by McGahan; a bit of experimentation with positions as well. Scott Deasy, for instance, is named at full back and Warwick will lead the team from the middle of the field. It is an interesting formation for sure, and McGahan will undoubtedly take further opportunity to test the water by using the full bench of 10 substitutes.
MUNSTER (v Sale): S Deasy; D Riordan, T Gleeson, P Warwick (capt), D Barnes; J Manning, T Morland; D Ryan, D Varley, S Archer; B Holland, I Nagle; N Williams, T O’Donnell, K Essex.
Replacements: M Sherry, J Brugnaut, D O’Callaghan, E Grace, C Murray, A Burke, F Ahern, D Kilcoyne, B Hayes, R O’Mahony, D Cusack
SALE SHARKS: N MacLeod, M Vakacefu, C Bell, L Thomas, O Ripol, C Hodgson (captain), W Cliff, R. O’Donnell, N Briggs, J Forester, C Jones, B Cockbain, J Gaskell, D Seymour, D Tait.
Replacements: M Halsall, G Kerry, M Jones, J Jones, R Glynn, S Kuaday, A Tuilagi, J Kennedy, B Roberts, M Atkinson.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
