Rugby: Munster to take on 'Rest of Ireland' team

Munster have found the European Cup semi-final warm-up match they were after - they face a 'Rest of Ireland' team at Thomond Park in Limerick on Good Friday.

"We will have a strong Lions presence at the game," said Donal Lenihan, manager of the Lions party who tour Australia in the summer.

"The Irish players are back playing some club matches but you can't judge them on those games.

"The European Cup tournament is a higher level than any of the domestic competitions in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. It is a far more competitive environment.

"Both semi-finals - Stade Francais v Munster and Leicester v Gloucester - are huge games and we have delayed announcing our tour squad until after those matches. But, to be fair to everyone, we can't go much beyond the end of April.

"With the disruptions we have had to the Six Nations, we would have been in serious trouble if that had been our only criteria for selection. However, the Heineken Cup, along with the autumn internationals, have been major boosts from a Lions selection point of view."

Former Ulster coach Harry Williams will manage The Rest of Ireland squad with Matt Williams (Leinster) the coach and Steff Nel (Connacht) the assistant coach.