Grobler And Wycherley Combine In Munster ‘A’ Engine Room
Head coach Peter Malone has named the Munster ‘A’ team for Friday’s British & Irish Cup round 5 match against Nottingham at Ladybay (kick-off 7.45pm), with seven Greencore Munster Rugby Academy players included in the squad.
Calvin Nash and Fineen Wycherley, who will both move up to development contracts next season, are among the starters. Munster ‘A’ currently lie second in Pool 1, two points behind Bedford Blues, and they defeated Nottingham 38-7 at Irish Independent Park in October.
The English Championship side are coached by former Munster assistant coach Ian Costello and will be keen to reverse that result tomorrow night.
David Johnston captains the current B&I Cup holders from full-back with Nash and Stephen Fitzgerald on the wings. An exciting partnership of Dave McCarthy and Ireland Sevens international Shane Daly start in the centre with Bill Johnston and James Hart linking up again at half-back.
Jeremy Loughman, Mike Sherry and Brian Scott form the front row. Wycherley is partnered by summer addition Gerbrandt Grobler in the second row, as the South African returns from an injury sustained against Worcester Warriors in pre-season to make his Munster ‘A’ debut.
Conor Oliver, the man-of-the-match in the GUINNESS PRO14 derby win over Connacht last Saturday night, is joined in the back row by Sean O’Connor and number 8 Gavin Coombes. Hooker Duncan Casey and prop Ciaran Parker make up the front row replacements with Sean McCarthy and John Foley providing further forward cover.
John Poland, Conor Fitzgerald and Ronan O’Mahony, who could see his first senior or ‘A’ team action since suffering a broken leg away to Benetton Rugby in April, complete the replacements selected by head coach Peter Malone.
MUNSTER ‘A’ (v Nottingham): David Johnston (capt); Calvin Nash, Shane Daly, Dave McCarthy, Stephen Fitzgerald; Bill Johnston, James Hart; Jeremy Loughman, Mike Sherry, Brian Scott, Fineen Wycherley, Gerbrandt Grobler, Sean O’Connor, Conor Oliver, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Duncan Casey, Ciaran Parker, Sean McCarthy, John Foley, John Poland, Conor Fitzgerald, Ronan O’Mahony.