2 weeks Ago By Vincent Whelan
MUNSTER half-backs Jack Crowley and Craig Casey will bid to keep up their push for the Lions squad when they start against the Bulls.The Reds pair are being spoken about as potential bolters for Andy Farrell’s summer tour of Australia and they will be keen to give Faz something to think about before he announces his squad on May 8.Munster have made four changes to the side that lost in the Champions Cup to Bordeaux-Begles for the visit of the South Africans to Thomond Park.
Seán O’Brien, Niall Scannell, Tom Ahern and Alex Kendellen all come into the side for the URC showdown.Hooker Lee Barron is set to make his debut off the bench after coming in early on loan from Leinster. Gavin Coombes, Calvin Nash, Diarmuid Barron and John Hodnett miss out after picking up injuries in Europe.
What TV channel is Munster vs Bulls on?This Thomond Park affair will be shown live on RTE Two as well as Premier Sports 1.So there is the free streaming option provided by the RTE Player in addition to the Premier Player for Premier subscribers/those with a NOW TV membership.Kick-off will be at 5:15pm.
What are the odds?The home side are 2/5 favourites while their South African foes are 21/10.A draw is priced at 17/1 while the handicap is +/-six points.MUNSTER: T Abrahams; S O’Brien, T Farrell, A Nankivell, A Smith; J Crowley, C Casey; J Wycherley, N Scannell, O Jager; J Kleyn, T Beirne; T Ahern, P O’Mahony, A Kendellen.
Reps: L Barron, M Donnelly, S Archer, F Wycherley, J O’Donoghue, C Murray, D Kilgallen, R Quinn.Elsewhere, the Ireland women’s team have been handed a timely boost after Edel McMahon was deemed fit to start in the Six Nations tomorrow against Wales.The Connacht star comes into the side as captain in place of Erin King, who suffered a knee injury against England and is set to miss the World Cup later this year.
Scott Bemand has made five changes to his side, with Test debutant Siobhán McCarthy, Ruth Campbell, Enya Breen and Molly Scuffil-McCabe selected.Ireland are third in the table behind leaders England and France, with winless Wales bottom.IRELAND: S Flood, A McGann, A Dalton, E Breen, AL Costigan, D O’Brien, M Scuffil-McCabe, S McCarthy, N Jones, L Djougang, R Campbell, D Wall, B Hogan, E McMahon, A Wafer.
Reps: C Moloney, S McGrath, C Haney, F Tuite, C Boles, E Lane, E Higgins, V Elmes Kinlan.Jack Crowley’s long-term future has been decided on the back of him signing a two-year extension earlier this month.
