Sherry out as Munster name team for Edinburgh

Hooker Mike Sherry has lost his battle to start in Munster’s Heineken Cup showdown with Edinburgh in Murrayfield on Sunday.

Sherry was outstanding for Munster in their Heineken Cup game against Saracens before Christmas but his place is taken by the experienced Damien Varley, one of four changes from that last European game. Sherry picked up an ankle injury in the RaboDirect PRO12 game against Cardiff last weekend but he has been named on the bench. Interestingly, however, Sean Henry, who replaced Sherry last weekend, hasn’t been named on the A side for the B & I Cup game against Aberavon as Shannon’s Duncan Casey starts that game with Niall Scannell on the bench.

The other changes see Keith Earls, who has returned to full fitness, replace Casey Laulala, Tommy O’Donnell come into the back row instead of Dave O’Callaghan and Dave Kilcoyne (who was sick for the trip to London) start instead of Wian du Preez.

O’Donnell’s good form sees him rewarded with just his second Heineken Cup cap. He’s named at openside flanker with Peter O’Mahony switching to Number 6. James Coughlan completes the back row. Young Paddy Butler is retained on the bench ahead of Sean Dougall and Dave O’Callaghan, both of whom have started Heineken Cup games this season. That duo will play for Munster ‘A’ on Saturday in a backline alongside CJ Stander.

Munster have named a very experienced side for that game in Wales as they look to keep their knockout hopes alive.

MUNSTER V Edinburgh - Felix Jones; Doug Howlett (captain), Keith Earls, James Downey, Simon Zebo; Ronan O’Gara, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Damien Varley,BJ Botha; Donncha O’Callaghan, Donnacha Ryan; Peter O’Mahony, Tommy O’Donnell, James Coughlan. Replacements: Mike Sherry, Wian du Preez, Stephen Archer, Billy Holland, Peter Butler, Duncan Williams, Ian Keatley, Casey Laulala

MUNSTER ‘A’ V Aberavon - Denis Hurley; Danny Barnes, Scott Deasy, Ivan Dineen, Ronan O’Mahony; JJ Hanrahan, Cathal Sheridan; James Cronin, Duncan Casey, Alan Cotter; Dave Foley, Ian Nagle; Dave O’Callaghan, Sean Dougall, CJ Stander. Replacements: Niall Scannell, Christy Condon, Brian Hayes, Ryan Murphy, Brian Haugh, James Holland, Darren Sweetnam