Munster supremo Anthony Foley has announced his team and replacements for Friday night’s British & Irish Cup Pool B match against Esher at Dooradoyle (kick-off 7.30pm).
Munster are back on home soil after edging their way to a 15-14 victory in Nottingham last weekend. Out-half Scott Deasy kicked a match-winning haul of five penalties at Meadow Lane.
Deasy is absent for Friday’s game at Garryowen FC as he has been called up to the senior squad for the London Irish tie, along with fellow backs Tom Gleeson and Denis Hurley.
Declan Cusack, Troy Smith and Sean Scanlon replace the trio in the side to face Esher, with head coach Anthony Foley also opting to bring in Simon Zebo on the left wing and Duncan Williams at scrum half.
Up front, there is one vacancy in what is otherwise an unchanged set of forwards from the Nottingham fixture. Flanker Billy Holland captains the side as they look to garner their third successive win in Pool B.
Pool leaders Llanelli beat Munster in Waterford back in October, but Foley’s charges have bounced back with a bonus point triumph over Melrose and last Friday’s one-point success in Nottingham.
Friday’s opponents, Esher, are bottom of the pool with three defeats in as many games. They are captained by former Connacht player David Slemen, and Kevin Corrigan, John Downey, Gerard Mullen and Darren O’Reilly are also familiar names.
MUNSTER (v Esher): Sean Scanlon; Danny Barnes, Ivan Dineen, Troy Smith, Simon Zebo; Declan Cusack, Duncan Williams; Dave Kilcoyne, Sean Henry, Stephen Archer, AN Other, Dave Foley, Billy Holland (capt), Tommy O’Donnell, Paddy Butler.
Replacements: Duncan Casey, Peter Borlase, David O’Callaghan, Brian O’Hara, Conor Murray, JJ Hanrahan, Corey Hircock.
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