Strong-looking Munster A favourites to overturn Ulster Ravens

BRAGGING rights will be at stake as Munster A take on Ulster Ravens at Musgrave Park this afternoon (2pm), but both sides will also be treating the clash as a dress rehearsal for the upcoming British and Irish Cup, which starts the weekend after next.

Ulster will be the first Irish side to go into battle when they host Bedford at Ravenhill on Friday week, while both Munster (v Coventry) and Leinster (v Plymouth) are drawn away the following day.

In the meantime, James Coughlan will lead Munster A this afternoon as the Anthony Foley-coached side attempt to score a double over Ulster and continue where they left off following a solid win over Leinster A in Clonmel recently.

There are some changes, however, with Ian Nagle returning to the second row and Damien Varley to the hooking berth after injury. Duncan Williams is ruled out and his place at scrum half goes to Paul Rowley, while Denis Hurley and Felix Jones come back to lend more experience to the challenge, replacing Danny Barnes and Ronan O’Mahony.

But if Munster look stronger so do the Ulster Ravens, who are managed by former international Gary Longwell and coached by current Ulster assistant, the vastly experienced Neil Doak.

Ulster have included big hitters such as Ryan Caldwell, Tamaiti Horua, Declan Fitzpatrick and Timoci Nagusa and also welcome back flanker David Pollock to competitive rugby. Pollock has recovered from hip surgery. Niall O’Connor starts at out half and is partnered by Cillian Willis as Ulster introduce a very experienced half back unit in a bid to turn the tables on Munster.

MUNSTER A: D Riordan; F Jones,T Gleeson, S Deasy, D Hurley; D Cusack, P Rowley; D Kilcoyne, D Varley, S Archer; I Nagle, D Foley; B Holland, J Coughlan (capt), T O’Donnell.

Replacements: M Sherry, C Condon, K Essex, P O’Mahony, C Murray, R O’Mahony, E Moloney.

ULSTER RAVENS: J Smith; T Nagusa, J Sheils, I Whitten, T Seymour; N O’Connor, C Willis; P McAllister, D Fitzpatrick, A Macklin; N McComb, R Caldwell (captain); C Napier, T Horua, D Pollock.

Replacements: R Fisher, J Fitzpatrick, J Burns, A Birch, I Porter, L Marshall, C Cochrane.