- Week-end local Gleeson League results, scores and scorers
- Newcastle West shock Enniscorthy in All-Ireland Cup opener
- Sweet win for Young Munster in Cork: Garryowen’s late victory
- High-scoring AIL game sees Shannon continue 1B winning run
- Connacht show up some weaknesses in Munster’s armour
- Munster make just three changes as they take on Connacht in Galway
- No room for Simon Zebo a questionable decision by the Irish selectors
- Connacht seeking a third win on the trot as Munster visit the Showgrounds
- Garryowen and Constitution will meet three times this season
- A look at the Champions/Challenge Cups apres Round Two
- Reflections on another Champions Cup win at Thomond Park
- End of season departure for Munster player Simon Zebo
- St Mary’s maintain their league challenge: Richmond draw
- Defence and hunger to win eventually breaks down the Racing 92 Thomond Park challenge
- All-local official line-up for Montpellier and Exeter cup tie
- The loss of key players is a worry for Rassie’s Munster tomorrow
- Richmond and St Mary’s at home this Sunday in Junior Leagues
- 16th man can again play its part as Munster face Racing 92
- Garryowen’s Mike Sherry starts for Munster A in Cork
- All the details of the opening round of the Champions Cup
- IRFU/Ulster Bank ‘Your Club Your Country’ Grand Draw update
- Limerick junior clubs ‘blown out’ of cups over the week-end
- Proud Munster live up to their image with well-deserved draw
- Clonakilty run riot in the last quarter to ease past St Mary’s
- Munster A team for their visit to Swansea is named
- Zebo at full-back, Mark Flanagan gets first start v Castres
- Some interesting facts about European Champions Cup journey
- Munster will want to avoid a ‘one win out of four’ statistic
- Johaan van Graan is appointed the new Munster coach
- Charlie O’Neill is Old Crescent’s new Junior Vice President
- Wins for four Limerick clubs in today’s Junior Leagues
- AIL: Garryowen, Young Munster, Thomond and Bohs beaten
- Leinster win the bragging rights in relatively tame derby
- Experimental Munster are hoping their backs gamble pays off
- Robin could be eyeing a second-row spot with the Reds
- Taute a major loss for Munster as bad knee injury rules him out
- Anthony Foley programme raises €35K for charitable causes
- Exciting lock forward Tadhg Beirne to join Munster next season
- League wins for Richmond, St Mary’s and Newcastle West
- Double success for locals in Ulster Bank 1A and 1B
- Second-half rout gives improved Munster a winning bonus point
- It’s time to bounce back as Munster release their hungry Lions
- New name in the ring for Munster job
- Eagle-eyed local rugby fan breaks Munster’s new coach story
- It’s a three week ban for Munster’s Fineen Wycherley
- Hurting Munster hope to bounce back against Cardiff Blues
- Good start for Abbeyfeale and Richmond as MJL 1 kicks off
- Young Munster are creaking at the early stages of the AIL
- Last night’s Ulster Bank All-Ireland League results
- Scotstoun nightmare for Munster as Warriors make them pay
Academy boys get their chance for Cork visit of Benetton
- Updated: 31/08/2017
SOME of the bigger names may be missing but Munster will go into tomorrow night’s opening Guinness PRO14 opener against Benetton Rugby under Friday Night Lights at Irish Independent Park, Cork tomorrow night (7.35pm) in confident mode.
Rassie Erasmus has made just two changes from the side that defeated Worcester Warriors in preseason last week, academy flanker Sean O’Connor coming into the back row and Andrew Conway at full back. Another promising academy play, loosehead Liam O’Connor, makes his first start and packs down alongside Rhys Marshall and Stephen Archer.
Garryowen wing Alex Wootton (pictured) and Darren Sweetnam join Conway in the back-three. Another light blue, Mike Sherry, could play his first competitive game since May 2016 if called from the bench.
Munster: Andrew Conway, Darren Sweetnam, Chris Farrell, Jaco Taute, Alex Wootton; Tyler Bleyendaal – capt., Duncan Williams; Liam O’Connor, Rhys Marshall, Stephen Archer; Jean Kleyn, Billy Holland; Sean O’Connor, Tommy O’Donnell, Jack O’Donoghue.
Replacements: Mike Sherry, Brian Scott, Ciaran Parker, Fineen Wycherley, Robin Copeland, James Hart, Ian Keatley, Dan Goggin.
Benetton Rugby: Ian McKinley, Angelo Esposito, Tommaso Benvenuti,, Tommaso Allan, Edoardo Gori, Marty Banks, Tito Tebaldi, Whetu Douglas, Sebastian Negri, Francesco Minto, Marco Lazzaroni, Dean Budd (C), Simone Ferrari, Luca Bigi, Federico Zani.
Replacements: 16 Engjel Makelara, 17 Cherif Traore, 18 Marco Riccioni, 19 Federico Ruzza, 20 Abraham Steyn, 21 Giorgio Bronzini, 22 Alberto Sgarbi, 23 Andrea Buondonno
Head Coach: Kieran Crowley
Tickets will be available to purchase at the ground on the night. Ticket prices as follows: Junior €7, Adult €20, Family €40 (2 adults & 2 kids). Tickets can also be purchased online at Ticketmaster.ie
Player Injury Update:
Following a scan for the ankle knock he sustained in Worcester, Gerbrandt Grobler will meet with a specialist next week, Conor Oliver undergoes shoulder surgery this week and is expected to be sidelined until the new year while James Cronin underwent a knee scope and will be unavailable for the opening rounds of the season.
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