Payne: Munster looking to future
A week after a new-look Munster side produced a stunning display to defeat the much more experienced Sale Sharks, there is a warm feeling in the province about the future. Payne doesn’t believe everything in the garden is rosy, but he is happy with work in progress.
As the coach Tony McGahan yesterday made four changes to his starting XV, from the side that took the field against Sale, Denis Hurley (for Scott Deasy), Niall Ronan (Nick Williams), Tony Buckley (Stephen Archer), and Denis Leamy (Kieran Essex) were welcomed back into the fold of an increasingly competitive environment.
Also included in the match day squad are internationals Mick O’Driscoll, Peter Stringer and Felix Jones who made such an impression in the course of Ireland’s Churchill Cup triumph. Jones will get game time to-night.
Payne believes the performance of the youngsters at Musgrave Park last week was hugely beneficial: “It was a pleasant surprise but not a shock; we had seen a lot in our pre-season to suggest it was a possibility.
“This pre-season has been difficult in the sense that we have had to cope with three different groups coming in at various levels, but it has also been very productive in that it has heightened competition.”
Meanwhile, Issac Boss will lead Ulster against Newcastle Falcons for to-night’s clash at Ravenhill (7.30pm) as the Irish province still smart from the news that the captain Rory Best will be out of action for at least a year.
Ulster play three games inside eight days and there will be squad rotation in advance of the early September Magners League start for which Stephen Ferris is likely o be available.
Up front, BJ Botha and Bryan Young start either side of newcomer Andy Kyriacou at hooker while there’s also a first start for Dan Tuohy (formerly of the Exeter Chiefs) who partners Ryan Caldwell in the second row. Chris Henry, Willie Faloon and Robbie Diack make up an all action back row with an average age of just 24.
Scrum half Boss links up with Ian Humphreys at out-half which Ian Whitten,.and Darren Cave form a young centre partnership backed up with an experienced back three of Simon Danielli, Clinton Schifcoske and Bryn Cunningham.
MUNSTER: D Hurley; D Riordan, T Gleeson, P Warwick capt, D Barnes; J Manning, T Morland; D Ryan, D Varley, T Buckley; I Nagle, B Holland, T O’Donnell, N Ronan, D Leamy.
Replacements (from): D Fogarty, J Brugnaut, R O’Mahony, S Archer, F Jones, S Deasy, P Stringer, O Grace, M O’Driscoll.
LONDON IRISH: D Armitage; A Thompstone, T Homer, C Gower, S Tagicakibau; R Lamb, P Richards; D Murphy, D Paice, P Ion; A Perry, K Roche; R Thorpe, S Armigage, C Hala’Ufia.
Replacements from: C Dermody; J Buckland; A Corbisiero; G Johnson; N Kennedy; P Hodgson; J Lennard; D Danaher; J Fisher; G Stowers; J Joseph; A Lalanne; M Watson.
ULSTER: B Cunningham; C Schifcoske; D Cave; I Whitten; S Danielli; I Humphreys; I Boss, B Young; A Kyriacou; BJ Botha; D Tuohy; R Caldwell; C Henry; W Faloon; R Diack.
Replacements: N. Brady, D. Fitzpatrick, N. McComb, TJ Anderson, P. Marshall, N. O’Connor, N. Spence.
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