THERE ARE TWO personnel changes from the recent win over Newport Gwent Dragons in the Munster team that will start against Zebre in this weekend’s Guinness Pro14 clash.
In the province’s first outing since the departure of Rassie Erasmus as director of rugby, new head coach Johann van Graan will be on the touchline at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi for Sunday’s game [KO 1.30pm Irish time, Sky Sports Action].
Following his summer move from Racing 92, James Hart makes his first start for Munster in place of Duncan Williams, who’s unavailable due to injury.
Having come off the bench to score two tries against the Dragons, Sam Arnold gets the nod to start at centre in the absence of Chris Farrell, who’ll play for Ireland against Argentina tomorrow.
Ireland winger Darren Sweetnam, who scored his first international try in last weekend’s win against Fiji, returns from international duty to start. Academy scrum-half Jack Stafford is in line to make his Munster debut off the bench.
Munster:
15. Simon Zebo
14. Darren Sweetnam
13. Sam Arnold
12. Rory Scannell
11. Alex Wootton
10. JJ Hanrahan
9. James Hart
1. Liam O’Connor
2. Rhys Marshall
3. Stephen Archer
4. Jean Kleyn
5. Billy Holland (captain)
6. Jack O’Donoghue
7. Chris Cloete
8. Robin Copeland
Replacements:
16. Kevin O’Byrne
17. Brian Scott
18. Ciaran Parker
19. Darren O’Shea
20. Sean O’Connor
21. Jack Stafford
22. Bill Johnston
23. Calvin Nash
Zebre:
15. Ciaran Gaffney
14. Pierre Bruno
13. Giulio Bisegni
12. Faialaga Afamasaga
11. Giovanni D’Onofrio
10. Maicol Azzolini
9. Guglielmo Palazzani
8. Derick Minnie
7. Johan Meyer
6. Jacopo Sarto (captain)
5. Leonard Krumov
4. James Tucker
3. Eduardo Bello
2. Luhandre Luus
1. Cruze Ah-Nau
Replacements:
16. Oliviero Fabiani
17. Andrea De Marchi
18. Roberto Tenga
19. Davide Fragnito
20. Maxime Mbandà
21. Riccardo Raffaele
22. Matteo Pratichetti
23. Valerio Bernabò
