Opportunity knocks for Munster fringe players

MUNSTER have named a team mixed with youth and experience for their pre-season clash with London Irish at Thomond Park Stadium tonight (7pm).

London Irish head coach Toby Booth equated Munster to French side Biarritz, their most recent opponents: “Munster, like Biarritz, is another formidable opponent and will offer another big challenge for us. This game represents the end of a focused pre-season campaign which is important going into the start of the Aviva Premiership and the London double-header.”

The exiles will start Adrian Jarvis at fly half and Daniel Bowden will play in the inside centre position.

New Australian signing, Tom Alexander, has been named on the bench along with James Sandford, the youngster from north of the border who has made such an impact on Irish underage rugby over the last few years.

Meanwhile, with game time at a minimum, Isaac Boss and Sean Cronin will get a run for Leinster in tonight’s pre-season friendly match with Northampton Saints at Donnybrook (7pm).

The two Irish squad members will join forces with at least two other players deemed unlucky not to have made the cut for the World Cup – Luke Fitzgerald and Kevin McLaughlin.

Eoin O’Malley who makes his return from injury and lines up alongside Eamonn Sheridan at centre; Andrew Conway starts at full-back and completes a back three that also includes former Connacht player Fionn Carr and Fitzgerald.

Rhys Ruddock leads the team which shows two debutants in the pack — Ireland hooker Cronin and former Northampton second row Damian Browne.