Preview: Munster vs. Warriors

By Dai
October 29 2003

The Warriors will be hoping to build on their victory against the Dragons last Friday when they travel to Limerick to face Munster, who like the Warriors are missing their international stars. For team news read on.

Munster vs. Celtic Warriors

Friday 31st October

Limerick  - Kick Off 19.30

After last Friday's victory against the Gwent Dragons, the Warriors will be looking to improve on the win when they take on Munster on Friday night. Coach Lynn Howells has made a number of changes to the Warriors team with development player Mark Lewis coming into the back row in place of Ryan Jones and experienced scrum half Paul John replacing Allen Chiltern who made his debut last week.

Maama Molitika looks likely to make his first Warriors appearance in the near future and has been included amongst the replacements and Dafydd James will hopefully be making his first start very soon although he will first make an appearance for Bridgend against Pontypridd before taking up a position in the Warriors team.

Munster have only made one change to the team which defeated Glasgow last weekend by 26-10 and they will be keen not to surrender to a Welsh region in the same way as they did to the Newport Gwent Dragons a couple of weeks ago when they were defeated by 29 - 6.

Munster Starting XV: Dominic Crotty; Martin McPhail, Mike Mullins, Jason Holland, Mossy Lawlor; Jeremy Staunton, Eoin Reddan; Simon Kerr, Andy Lony, Frank Roche, Trevor Hogan, Stephen Keogh, Denis Leamy, Colm McMahon, Jim Williams (capt)
Replacements: Eugene McGovern, James Blaney, Donal Sheehan, Tom Hayes, Frank Murphy, Conrad O'Sullivan, Clem Casey.

Warriors Starting XV: Emyr Lewis; Aesia Havili, Shaun James, Jonny Bryant (capt), Gareth Wyatt; Neil Jenkins, Paul John; Phil Booth, Mathew Rees, Chris Horsman, Deiniol Jones, Nathan Budgett, Richard Parks, Cory Harris, Mark Lewis.
Replacements: Chris Balshen, Gerraint Morris, H Halford, Maama Molitika, Allen Chiltern, Matthew Nutthall, Lee Thomas.