Munster to land knock-out punch in Bristol fashion

BRITISH AND IRISH CUP:MUNSTER WILL be hoping to take a significant step towards the British and Irish Cup knock-out stage with a victory over Bristol in their rescheduled match at the Memorial Grounds tonight (7.45). Heavy snow caused the fixture to be cancelled in December. Victory in Bristol will guarantee the Irish side's progress irrespective of other results.

Munster are five points ahead of their hosts – Bristol have a game in hand – and two clear of Llanelli, who defeated the province in Waterford in the opening match of the pool.

The Welsh side host Nottingham in their final outing and are likely to win that handsomely.

Coach Anthony Foley has been able to name a strong squad bolstered by the likes of Billy Holland, Darragh Hurley, Peter Borlase, Scott Deasy and Tom Gleeson, all of whom have enjoyed Magners League game time recently.

Bristol make 11 changes to the side that lost to the Rotherham Titans at the weekend as coach Paul Hull sets his sights on a British and Irish Cup quarter-final berth. Seven of those changes are in the pack, with only Darren Barry remaining from Saturday.

Hull admitted: “This game will be our second game in four days, so it’s important that we continue to rotate the squad and keep everybody fresh.

“We’re determined to get back to winning ways and Munster A will be tough opposition.”

The coach has opted for a five-two split in terms of forwards and backs on the bench and one of the replacements is former Leinster hooker David Blaney.

BRISTOL: J Tovey; A Elliott, J Adams, J Fatialofa, G Watkins; E Barnes, R Bolt; M Irish, R Johnston, D Crompton; R Winters, D Barry; I Grieve, J Merriman, D Montagu. Replacements: D Blaney, J Hobson, W Thompson, M Sambucetti, J Miller, S Alford, M Davies.

MUNSTER (from): G Quinn-McDonagh, R O’Mahony, S Zebo, D Barnes, I Dineen, T Gleeson, T Smith, S Deasy, D Cusack, C Sheridan, C Murray, D Kilcoyne, D Ryan, P Borlase, D Hurley, D Casey, J Reale, G Slattery, D Foley, B Holland, David O’Callaghan, C O’Flaherty, K Essex, B O’Hara, P Butler, J Quill.