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The Cara Cup Series continues on Saturday when the New England Free Jacks host Munster ‘A’ at the GAA Fields of the Irish Cultural Centre in Canton. It’s the first time rugby will be played at the grounds, and fittingly it will feature arguably Ireland’s most famous provincial outfit.
Munster coach Peter Malone has not held back in his selections, despite knowing that Leinster awaits mid-week. He has opted to field his strongest possible side with seven players boasting Guinness Pro 14 experience, five of them in the forwards.
Liam O’Connor continues to work his way back from a long-term knee injury after starting seven games for Munster last season. Gavin Coombes and Sean O’Connor form a promising second row unit, while Jack O’Sullivan, just a few months removed from the Ireland u20 side, is flanked by senior squad members David O’Callaghan and Conor Oliver.
Veteran scrumhalf Duncan Williams captains the side with a youthful backline selected. Ben Healy and Sean French are fresh off the u20 Six Nations tournament and powerful winger Alex Wootton is a danger man having scored eight tries in the Pro 14 last season while starting four Champions Cup games.
The Free Jacks have made just three changes from the the side that came up short against Ulster a fortnight ago. France age-grade international Simon Courcoul starts at loosehead prop in the absence of Tony Purpura, and Ronan McCusker replaces Pago Haini as Cork native Conor Kindregan moves from lock to the back of the scrum.
Oliver Engelhart starts at scrumhalf in place of Erik Thompson in the only change to the backs. Midfielder Isaiah Lopez is added in place of Bryan Ptomey, and big Dave McKenna is recalled to cover loosehead prop with Quentin Newcomer continuing as reserve tighthead.
Kickoff is set for 4pm local time, 1pm Pacific, 9pm GMT. The match will be broadcast live on NESNplus with a recording to be uploaded to YouTube at its conclusion.
NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS
1 Simon Courcoul, 2 Steven Hinshaw, 3 Dolph Botha, 4 Jackson Thiebes, 5 Ronan McCusker, 6 Owen Hundt, 7 Jon Kokinda, 8 Conor Kindregan, 9 Oliver Engelhart, 10 Tadhg leader (capt.), 11 Stephen Dazzo, 12 Owen Collins, 13 Ahmad Harajly, 14 Christian Adams, 15 Danny Collins
Replacements: 16 Dave McKenna, 17 Diego Maquieira, 18 Quentin Newcomer, 19 Aaron Cummings, 20 Pago Haini, 21 Erik Thompson, 22 Isaiah Lopez, 23 Peceli Rinakama
MUNSTER ‘A’
1 Liam O’Connor, 2 Eoghan Clarke, 3 Luke Masters, 4 Gavin Coombes, 5 Sean O’Connor, 6 David O’Callaghan, 7 Conor Oliver, 8 Jack O’Sullivan, 9 Duncan Williams (capt.), 10 Ben Healy, 11 Alex Wootton, 12 Alex McHenry, 13 Sean French, 14 Conor Phillips, 15 Alan Tynan
Replacements: 16 Billy Scannell, 17 Keynon Knox, 18 David Jennings, 19 Paddy Kelly, 20 Jack Daly, 21 Jack Stafford, 22 James Hart, 23 James McCarthy
Date: Saturday, April 6
Venue: Irish Cultural Centre, Canton
Kickoff: 16:00 local (13:00 Pacific, 21:00 GMT)
Referee: Lex Weiner (USAR)
Broadcasts: NESNplus, YouTube (delayed)
