Penney makes five changes for Exiles
Rugby:Munster coach Rob Penney has made five changes to that starting XV that beat Bristol ahead of the final pre-season game against London Irish on Friday.
Johne Murphy replaces Luke O’Dea at fullback, while Wian du Preez, BJ Botha, Dave O'Callaghan and James Coughlan all start in the pack.
Stephen Archer, Tommy O'Donnell, Paddy Butler and O'Dea are named on an extended bench for the game at Musgrave Park (7pm).
O’Dea will start in the Munster A game against Connacht A at the Sportsground on Thursday (3pm), as will Seán Scanlon and Philip Donnellan, who are also among the replacements for Friday’s game.
Doug Howlett will captain the side against London Irish.
The meeting with the Exiles could see Tomás O’Leary come face to face with his former team-mates after he started the 18-12 defeat to the Dragons last Friday.
O’Leary left Munster in the close season in a bid to get more first team opportunities having fallen out of favour at provincial and international level.
Munster (v London Irish):D Hurley; D Howlett (capt), C Laulala, J Downey, J Murphy; I Keatley, D Williams; W du Preez, D Varley, BJ Botha; D Foley, B Holland; D O’Callaghan, S Dougall, J Coughlan.
Replacements:M Horan, S Henry, S Archer, P Donnellan, T O’Donnell, P Butler, P Stringer, S Deasy, S Scanlon, L O’Dea.
Munster A (v Connacht A):L O’Dea; R O’Mahony, I Dineen, S Scanlon, A N Other; JJ Hanrahan, G Hurley (Cork Con); D Kilcoyne, D Casey, J Ryan; P Donnellan, D O’Shea (Dolphin); B Hayes, B O’Mahony, S Buckley.
Replacements:J Cronin, G Slattery (Young Munster), C Condon, E Kelly (UL Bohs), S Rennison (UL Bohs), N Cronin (Garryowen), J Holland, C Hircock, C Bohane, R Mullane (Shannon).
