Munster head coach Anthony Foley has made three changes for his side to face Connacht in the PRO12 tomorrow night with Simon Zebo set to make his 100th appearance for Munster.
A dip in the @Inphosports archives @connachtrugby v @Munsterrugby and there's Axel, Mul, Fla, Wally and more #pro12 pic.twitter.com/52dzUzcxoW
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) April 15, 2016
The first of two changes to the pack comes in the front row with hooker Mike Sherry returning to start alongside James Cronin and Stephen Archer. Donnacha Ryan and Billy Holland continue their partnership in the second row.
With Jack O’Donoghue coming into the back row at number eight, captain CJ Stander makes the positional switch to six with Tommy O’Donnell on the other flank.
The final change sees Darren Sweetnam start on the right wing, joining Keith Earls and Munster centurion Simon Zebo in the back-three.
Side Named For Connacht - Foley makes three changes & @SimonZebo to win 100th cap: https://t.co/q8xRQxsEsp#ConVMun pic.twitter.com/DTXaslp2ze
— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) April 15, 2016
Conor Murray and Johnny Holland are named at halfback while Rory Scannell and Francis Saili continue their midfield partnership.
Connacht head coach Pat Lam has also made three personnel changes from the starting XV that lined out in France last weekend.
Connacht team to face Munster at a sold out Sportsground tomorrow 7:15pm @ https://t.co/nU0Yg45G1s #PRO12Rugby pic.twitter.com/hDOH0eLNgD
— Connacht Rugby (@connachtrugby) April 15, 2016
There are changes in the back line as a result of the injury to Danie Poolman. Top try scorer Matt Healy returns to the left wing with Robbie Henshaw continuing at fullback.
Academy centre Peter Robb is handed his sixth start of the season, partnering Bundee Aki in midfield. The half back pairing of Shane O’Leary and Kieran Marmion is retained.
Up front, Aly Muldowney is brought in to partner Irish international Ultan Dillane while Eoin McKeon has recovered from illness to start in the all-Galway-born back row with Sean O’Brien and John Muldoon.
Jason Harris-Wright and Jack Carty are new additions to the match day squad with Carty in line to make his first appearance since having his spleen removed ten weeks ago.
Connacht v Munster at the Sportsground, Saturday April 16 – kick-off 7.15pm.
Connacht team: Robbie Henshaw, Niyi Adeolokun, Bundee Aki, Peter Robb, Matt Healy, Shane O’Leary , Kieran Marmion, Denis Buckley, Tom McCartney, Finlay Bealham, Ultan Dillane, Aly Muldowney, Sean O’Brien, Eoin McKeon, John Muldoon
Replacements: Jason Harris-Wright, Ronan Loughney, JP Cooney, Andrew Browne, James Connolly, John Cooney, Jack Carty, Fionn Carr
Munster team: Simon Zebo; Darren Sweetnam, Francis Saili, Rory Scannell, Keith Earls; Johnny Holland, Conor Murray; James Cronin, Mike Sherry, Stephen Archer; Donnacha Ryan, Billy Holland; CJ Stander – capt., Tommy O’Donnell, Jack O’Donoghue.
Replacements: Niall Scannell, Dave Kilcoyne, John Ryan, Robin Copeland, Jordan Coghlan, Tomás O’Leary, Ian Keatley, Andrew Conway.
