Costello expecting tough test from Aberavon

Munster A coach Ian Costello has the luxury of being able to name what is arguably his strongest team for today’s British and Irish Cup clash with Aberavon in Tralee (1pm).

The champions will have plenty of experience to call upon, not least the iconic Peter Stringer whose 225 senior caps amounts to many more than the cumulative total of his 14 colleagues.

Munster opened their campaign with an excellent 26-22 win over Plymouth last week — a display that Costello described as “excellent” and he hopes to build on that this afternoon.

Scott Deasy links up with Stringer at half-back, Luke O’Dea returns to play full-back, Danny Barnes and Cian Bohane are in the centre and Corey Hircock, who scored twice last week, moves to the wing.

Up and coming young props Alan Cotter and John Ryan flank captain Sean Henry ahead of a strong second row partnership in Ian Nagle and Dave Foley. Tommy O’Donnell plays number eight, with Dave O’Callaghan and Barry O’Mahony on either side. Costello still expects a hard game from Aberavon, who were narrowly beaten by Rotherham Titans last week: “From what we’ve seen of them, they have a big hard working pack, so it looks like we might be giving away a bit in terms of size. They haven’t had a great start to their domestic season but that means nothing when it comes to cup rugby and they’ll surely make it hard for us.”

Meanwhile Rhys Ruddock has returned from injury and is named in the Leinster A team to face Pontypridd at Sardis Road this afternoon (2pm).

Leinster enjoyed a 47-18 victory over Leeds Carnegie in their opening game and this week Noel Reid moves to full-back in place of Darren Hudson (shoulder injury). John Cooney partners Cathal Marsh at half-back, with Collie O’Shea continuing his centre partnership with Brendan Macken. Up front, Ruddock joins Jordan Coghlan and Leo Auva’a in the back row, while Martin Moore starts at tight-head prop in a front row which features Thomas Sexton and skipper Jack McGrath.

MUNSTER A (v Aberavon): L O’Dea; R O’Mahony, D Barnes, C Bohane, C Hircock; S Deasy, P Stringer; A Cotter, S Henry (captain), John Ryan; I Nagle, D Foley; D O’Callaghan, B O’Mahony, T O’Donnell.

Replacements: D Casey, C Condon, B Hayes, S Buckley, C Sheridan, J Holland, I Dineen.

LEINSTER A (v Pontypridd): N Reid, A Boyle, B Macken, C O’Shea, S Coghlan-Murray, C Marsh, J Cooney, J McGrath , T Sexton, M Moore, T Denton, B Marshall, R Ruddock, J Coghlan, L Auva’a.

Replacements: J Tracy, J O’Connell, T Beirne, J Conan, D Shanahan, S Crosbie, T Daly.