Young-gun Sherry to front Reds’ challenge

Munster are set to delve deep into their reservoir of young talent with the near certainty that hooker Mike Sherry will start Sunday’s Heineken Cup quarter-final.

Just like Conor Murray, Peter O’Mahony and Simon Zebo, 23-year-old Sherry was a member of the province’s academy little more than 12 months ago. A son of former Ireland flanker Mick, Sherry has looked a highly promising player since his youngest days at Ardscoil Rís.

He played his club rugby with Garryowen before making his first appearance in the Magners League as a replacement against Connacht in 2009 and was brought in for two Heineken Cup appearances, again as a replacement, last season.

With Murray, Paul O’Connell and Donnacha Ryan proving their fitness, the team will show a substantial number of changes from the one that started against Leinster last Saturday.

Likely Munster line-up: F Jones; D Hurley, K Earls, L Mafi, S Zebo; R O’Gara, C Murray; W du Preez, M Sherry, B J Botha, P O’Connell, D O’Callaghan, D Ryan, P O’Mahony, J Coughlan.

Replacements: D Varley, M Horan, S Archer, D Wallace, T O’Donnell, J Murphy, I Keatley, T O’Leary.