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Kilcoyne passed fit but Earls misses out for Munster's weekend in Paris

The Ireland centre hasn’t been passed fit to play in this weekend’s Champions Cup clash with Racing 92.

Keith Earls Keith Earls watched as Munster trained at UL yesterday. Tommy Dickson / INPHO Tommy Dickson / INPHO / INPHO

THERE’S JUST ONE enforced change to the Munster team for Sunday’s meeting with Racing 92 at Stade Yves-Du-Manoir in Pool 1 of the European Champions Cup [KO 3.15pm, Sky Sports 2].

Keith Earls is still following the return-to-play protocols after sustaining a concussion during last Saturday’s defeat to Leinster in the Guinness Pro12. As a result, his place at outside centre will be taken by South African international Jaco Taute, who scored a try as a replacement in the 25-14 loss at the Aviva Stadium six days ago.

Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus has opted to leave his side unchanged otherwise, which means that loosehead prop Dave Kilcoyne has been passed fit to start. Kilcoyne was also concussed against Leinster but he has now completed his return-to-play protocols.

Winger Darren Sweetnam and out-half Tyler Bleyendaal will make their European debuts against the French champions, while Brian Scott and Dan Goggin could also be in line for their first European appearances. Scott comes in for the suspended James Cronin among the replacements, while Goggin will fill Taute’s place on the bench.

Jaco Taute Jaco Taute will make his European Champions Cup debut. Tommy Dickson / INPHO Tommy Dickson / INPHO / INPHO

Munster:

15. Simon Zebo
14. Darren Sweetnam
13. Jaco Taute
12. Rory Scannell
11. Ronan O’Mahony
10. Tyler Bleyendaal
9. Conor Murray

1. Dave Kilcoyne
2. Niall Scannell
3. John Ryan
4. Donnacha Ryan
5. Billy Holland
6. Peter O’Mahony (captain)
7. Tommy O’Donnell
8. CJ Stander

Replacements:

16. Duncan Casey
17. Brian Scott
18. Stephen Archer
19. Robin Copeland
20. Jack O’Donoghue
21. Duncan Williams
22. Ian Keatley
23. Dan Goggin

Racing 92:

15. Brice Dulin
14. Joe Rokocoko
13. Anthony Tuitavake
12. Henry Chavancy
11. Juan Imhoff
10. Johannes Goosen
9. Maxime Machenaud (captain)

1. Eddy Ben Arous
2. Camille Chat
3. Ben Tameifuna
4. Leone Nakarawa
5. Manuel Carizza
6. Wenceslas Lauret
7. Yannick Nyanga
8. Chris Masoe

Replacements:

16. Virgile Lacombe
17. Viliamu Afatia
18. Cedate Gomes Sa
19. Francois Van Der Merwe
20. Thibault Dubarry
21. James Hart
22. Remi Tales
23. Albert Vulivuli

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