MICK O’DRISCOLL WILL make his landmark 200th appearance when he leads out the Munster XV for tomorrow night’s RaboDirect Pro12 game against the Newport Gwent Dragons.
If O’Driscoll can remember anything of his Munster debut against a Morocco XV back in August 1998, he might be able to offer a few words of encouragement to new boy Save Tokula who is handed a first start for the province.
Tokula only arrived in Cork last Sunday week, but an injury to Danny Barnes means that he’s thrust into action alongside Lifeimi Mafi in midfield.
The versatile Fijian back is one of only two changes in the Munster backs. Luke O’Dea comes in on the right wing in place of Simon Zebo, who was involved with the national side in Maynooth this week and is unavailable as a result.
Denis Fogarty and Stephen Archer replace Damien Varley and BJ Botha in the front row while in behind, Dave Foley comes in to partner O’Driscoll.
Welsh international Luke Charteris makes his first start for the Dragons since returning home from the Rugby World Cup.
Dragons: Harries; Chavhanga, Tuilagi, Smith (c), Brew; Robling, Evans; Williams, Jones, Buck; Charteris, Sidoli; Groves, Evans, Brown. Replacements: Parry, Price, Way, Ellis, Waters, Evans, Dixon, Jones.
Munster: Jones; O’Dea, Tokula, Mafi, Murphy; Keatley, O’Leary; Horan, Fogarty, Archer; Foley, O’Driscoll (c); Dave O’Callaghan, O’Donnell, Coughlan. Replacements: Sherry, du Preez, Botha, Holland, Butler, Williams, Deasy, Hurley.
