A must-win scenario for Munster ’A’

Munster A must beat London Scottish today to remain in the hunt for the British and Irish Cup quarter-finals.

Following last week’s defeat away to Yorkshire Carnegie, the best hope home coach Mick O’Driscoll has of progressing is as one of three best pool runners up.

There can be no slip up in today’s clash at the CBC grounds in Lansdowne, Cork and his side will even have to push for a bonus point win to enhance their chances of making it through to the last eight.

Following his European debut against Stade Francis at Thomond Park last weekend, Academy loose head Liam O’Connor returns to start, while hooker Kevin O’Byrne also earns a place in the team. Darren Sweetnam is on the wing after his impressive introduction last week.

Although London Scottish enjoyed a comprehensive win over Ospreys last week (49-7), their coaching team has also rung the changes. There is a new front row with Kurt Schonert and David Cherry joining Max Maidment, who starts for the first time since mid-October after injury.

Josh Thomas Brown also returns from injury and Tinus du Plessis makes his debut at open side flanker. In the backs, George Horne comes in at scrum-half, and he is joined at fly-half by Lee Millar, who will be making his 49th appearance for the club and Jason Harries returns to the team after injury. The game kicks off at 2pm.

MUNSTER A:

D Johnston; S Fitzgerald, D Goggin, C Bohane, D Sweetnam; J Holland, D Williams; L O’Connor, K O’Byrne, P McCabe; L Nicholas, S McCarthy; J Coghlan, S Doyle, S Buckley (captain).

Replacements:

E Rossiter, B Scott, O Lyons, C Oliver, R Foley, N Hodson, S McMahon.

LONDON SCOTTISH:

P Lydon; A Turner, J Harries, C Jackson, R Weir; L Millar, G Horne; K Schonert, D Cherry, M Maidment; R Bartle, J Thomas Brown; A Brown, T du Plessis, M Bright (captain)

Replacements:

A Kwasnicki,J Gibbons, M Shields, W Carrick Smith, T Moran, N Earle, M Heeks