Munster side named for derby clash

Head Coach Anthony Foley has made six changes from the side that defeated Treviso in the Champions Cup for Saturday's return to Guinness PRO12 action against Connacht at Thomond Park, ko 5.15pm. James Cronin will win his 50th Munster cap with Argentina international Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino set to make his first start for the province.

Nenagh's Donnacha Ryan again partners Mark Chisholm in an unchanged second row, while in the back row, the return of Robin Copeland at 8 sees captain CJ Stander switch to 6 with Jack O'Donoghue remaining at 7.

 

Tomás O'Leary comes in to partner Ian Keatley in the half backs and a positional change for Keith Earls sees him move into midfield alongside Francis Saili who switches to the inside channel. Should he feature from the bench, Kevin O'Byrne will make his first PRO12 appearance of the current campaign.

Munster: Andrew Conway; Gerhard van den Heever, Keith Earls, Francis Saili, Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino; Ian Keatley, Tomás O'Leary; James Cronin, Niall Scannell, BJ Botha; Donnacha Ryan, Mark Chisholm; CJ Stander Capt., Jack O'Donoghue, Robin Copeland. Replacements: Kevin O'Byrne, Dave Kilcoyne, John Ryan, Dave Foley, Jordan Coghlan, Duncan Williams, Rory Scannell, Denis Hurley.