Munster A’s mix of youth and experience will be an advantage against London Scottish

Munster A - champions in 2012, begin their challenge for a second B & I Cup title when they take on London Scottish at the Athletic ground in Richmond, London tonight (7.45pm).

Coach Mick O’Driscoll has opted for a blend of youth and experience in his side.

It contains the Clonmel brothers David and Bill Johnston at full-back and out-half, respectively, along with recent acquisitions Mario Sagario from Uruguay and New Zealander Sean Doyle in the front and back rows of the scrum.

The side is captained by hooker Niall Scannell.

Munster have been included in the same pool as London Scottish, Yorkshire Carnegie and an Ospreys Premier Selection drawn from the Swansea-Neath area in Southern Wales.

Since their win in 2012, Munster have been relatively disappointing and defeats by Worcester Warriors (now the club of Donncha O’Callaghan and since promoted to the Premiership) and Doncaster Knights saw them eliminated at the qualifying stage last season.

The days when London Scottish players used to dominate the Scottish national side have long since passed. They now compete as a semi- professional outfit in the English Club Championship and are currently in mid-table having lost their most recent outing by a 20-point margin to Jersey.

Only four of that side retain their places tonight. Irishmen Tyrone Moran and Peter Lydon are included in the replacements panel.

Munster should be too good for an inexperienced squad but coach Mick O’Driscoll is taking nothing for granted.

“They are a typical English Championship side with a very big pack who work a lot off their set-piece and are very strong in the scrum and maul,” he maintained.

“Last season we had guys playing in the competition for the first time and those players will be that bit more ready this time.

“We also have a few young guys who won’t have played B&I Cup rugby and it will be great experience for them”.

LONDON SCOTTISH:

A Morris; A Turner, R Ferguson, L Millar, M Mantella; O Grove, B Calder; J Gibbons, D Cherry, M Shields, W Carrick Smith, R Bartle, J Chisholm, C Pennycook, F Clarke capt.

Replacements:

T Moran, J Cosgrove, J Litchfield, A Davidson, A Brown, G Horne, P Lydon.

MUNSTER A:

D Johnston; S Fitzgerald, M D’Arcy, C Bohane, R O’Mahony; B Johnston, D Williams; L O’Connor, N Scannell capt, M Sagario, S McCarthy, B Holland, J Coghlan, S Doyle, S Buckley.

Replacements:

K O’Byrne, R Burke, D Quinlan, S O’Connor, C Oliver, B Kilkenny, C Sheridan, D Sweetnam, D Goggin.