Foley Names Munster Side To Face Bristol
New Ormond Park, the home of Nenagh Ormond RFC, is the venue for Friday’s British & Irish Cup Pool B clash between Munster and Bristol (7.30pm).
Both sides won their opening games, Munster in Coventry and Bristol in Neath and the province’s coach Anthony Foley and his management team have taken careful note of that result in Wales.
“We recognise that great result they had in Neath – to win at the Gnoll is a fair achievement and obviously an excellent start to the campaign for them,” he said.
“But it still a case of us concentrating on ourselves and making sure we’re right for the game.
“They’re not long out of the English Premiership, so yes, they’re a strong side. It’ll be interesting to see what sort of team they select but that’s out of our control too.”
The choice of venue is one that appeals to Foley, with Munster ‘A’ having beaten a Russian side in front of 3,000 fans in Nenagh before.
“I think it’s a great venue. I went in there yesterday and the pitch was a bit soft but with the forecast that the bad spell of weather will blow over, it should be grand.
“It’ll be a tremendous occasion. Nice to play in front of a big crowd again.
“The boys are enjoying the fact that the last couple of games, against Leinster in Clonmel and then in Coventry, attracted big crowds and the atmosphere has been marvellous.
“It all helps and we’d be looking forward to more of the same in Nenagh on Friday.”
The Munster side shows six changes from the side that started against Coventry – three of those changes involving players who had been originally selected for the Pool B opener but missed out through injury or illness.
Fit-again full-back Danny Riordan and flankers Billy Holland and Tommy O’Donnell all return to the starting line-up.
Elsewhere, sub-Academy player Simon Zebo, a second half replacement at Butts Stadium, comes onto the left wing for Ireland ‘A’ call-up Denis Hurley.
Scrum half Conor Murray comes in to replace the injured Duncan Williams, while another sub-Academy player, Dave Kilcoyne, has been drafted in at loosehead prop in place of Julien Brugnaut.
MUNSTER (v Bristol): Danny Riordan; Danny Barnes, Tom Gleeson, Scott Deasy, Simon Zebo; Declan Cusack, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Mike Sherry, Stephen Archer, Ian Nagle, Dave Foley, Billy Holland, Tommy O’Donnell, James Coughlan (capt).
Replacements: Sean Henry, Pa O’Regan, Nick Williams, Peter O’Mahony, Paul Rowley, Andrew Burke, Ronan O’Mahony.