Rugby News: In the absence of an A international between Ireland and Wales this week Munster have managed to cobble together a relatively strong selection for an invaluable friendly against a useful looking Borders outfit at Thomond Park (7.30) this evening.
With 3½ weeks before their Heineken European Cup quarter-final away to Leicester it should be a particularly beneficial stepping stone on the road back to fitness for players like Paul O'Connell, Rob Henderson, Anthony Horgan, Dominic Crotty and Simon Kerr, not to mention Mike Mullins, who has been overlooked for the Irish A squad heretofore.
Scottish internationals Gary Armstrong and Doddie Weir head up a strong Borders side for tonight's game. Armstrong will captain a side that includes Craig Moir as well as two Samoan internationals - out-half Tanner Vili and back-rower Semo Sititi.
By contrast, Leinster's casualty list has been worsened by injuries to Girvan Dempsey, Shane Horgan, Reggie Corrigan and Victor Costello during the Six Nations, for their trip to London to play Wasps in the latter's training ground in Ealing (kick-off, 1.30).
Nevertheless, a good smattering of their European Cup squad will play - including several on the road back from injury - such as Emmet Byrne, Niall Treston, Des Dillon, Liam Toland, Brian O'Meara, David Quinlan, Peter McKenna and Gordon D'Arcy.
"It's more of a back-up team because they need a game, and Wasps need a back-up game as well," said team manager Ken Ging yesterday.
Of more pressing value vis-à-vis Leinster's European Cup quarter-final against Biarritz in Lansdowne Road on April 12th, Ulster have agreed to travel to Lansdowne for a practice match against Matt Williams's side on April 4th.
Meanwhile, the schools' Junior Cup finals in Leinster and Connacht take place at Donnybrook and Crowley Park today. Blackrock College, after a more tortuous route to the final, take on Gonzaga College at Donnybrook (kick-off, 3.0), while in Galway, Sligo Grammar School seek a rare double when again meeting Garbally College in a reprise of the senior final a week ago.
As further evidence of the growth of the game at underage level in the province, this final will be preceded by the Junior Development Cup decider and the novel pairing of St Attracta's Tubercurry and Gort Community School.
MUNSTER (v Borders): D Crotty; M Lawlor, M Mullins, R Henderson, A Horgan; J Holland, M Prendergast; M Cahill, J Blaney, S Kerr, P O'Connell, M O'Driscoll, J Williams, E Halvey, D Leamy. Replacements:_ D Malone, K Keane, C O'Sullivan, M Pettman, W O'Kelly, C McMahon, T Hogan, M Galwey, P Malone.
BORDERS: S Paterson; C Moir, D Gray, J Stuart, S Longstaff; T Vili, G Armstrong; A Johnston, S Gunn, C Dunlea; D Weir, C Stewart; T Walker, C Feather, S Sititi. Replacements: _ D Irving, C Laidlaw, C MacRae, A Gillie, R Ford, R Deans, A Davidson.
