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Munster and Ulster both make eight changes ahead of Italian jobs

Ulster host Zebre tomorrow while Munster hit the road to Treviso.

ANTHONY FOLEY HAS made sweeping changes to the Munster starting line-up with eight changes from the side who started the opening night loss to Edinburgh.

The changes for tomorrow’s away clash in Treviso (KO 19.00 Irish time) include an all new front row of James Cronin, Duncan Casey and Stephen Archer while the back row is strengthened by the addition of Robin Copeland (who survived a lost-passport scare) and Tommy O’Donnell.

Captain last week, Donncha O’Callaghan drops to the bench with Dave Foley taking over in the second row.

There are only two changes behind the scrum with Felix Jones named captain as he returns at fullback in place of Ronan O’Mahony.

Felix Jones Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

Johne Murphy drops out of the matchday squad altogether with Ivan Dineen named at inside centre and Andrew Smith moved into the 13 channel.

Paul O’Connell was initially expected to feature but is a late withdrawal for personal reasons, say the province.

Munster (v Treviso): 

15. Felix Jones (Capt)

14. Andrew Conway

13 Andrew Smith

12 Ivan Dineen

11. Simon Zebo

10. Ian Keatley

9. Duncan Williams

1. James Cronin

2. Duncan Casey

3. Stephen Archer

4. Dave Foley

5. Billy Holland

6.  CJ Stander

7. Tommy O’Donnell

8. Robin Copeland

Replacements:

16. Kevin O’Byrne

17. John Ryan

18. BJ Botha

19. Donncha O’Callaghan

20. Sean Dougall

21 Cathal Sheridan

22. Johnny Holland

23. Ronan O’Mahony.

Les Kiss Presseye / William Cherry/INPHO Presseye / William Cherry/INPHO / William Cherry/INPHO

Ulster have also changed half their starting line-up for the visit of Zebre to the newly named Kingspan Stadium (KO 19.35).

Reinstated as captain, Rory Best will make his first appearance of the season as one of four changes in the pack.

Nick Williams fills the number eight shirt in place of Roger Wilson while Lewis Stevenson and Andrew Warwick come in to the tight five.

Darren Cave and Lewis Stevenson Presseye / William Cherry/INPHO Presseye / William Cherry/INPHO / William Cherry/INPHO

Behind the scrum there is an all new, though familiar, midfield as Luke Marshall and Darren Cave replace Stuart Olding and Jared Payne.

Andrew Trimble starts the game after his late try-scoring heroics last week with Ricky Andrew running from fullback as Louis Ludik takes up a spot on the bench alongside Ruaidhri Murphy, who will likely make his debut for the province after joining from the Brumbies.

Ulster (v Zebre):

15. Ricky Andrew

14. Andrew Trimble

13. Darren Cave.

12. Luke Marshall

11 Craig Gilroy

10. Ian Humphreys

9. Paul Marshall

1. Andrew Warwick

2. Rory Best.

3. Wiehahn Herbst

4. Lewis Stevnson

5. Dan Tuohy.

6. Robbie Diack

7 Chris Henry

8. Nick Williams.

Replacements:

16. Rob Herring

17.  Ruaidhri Murphy

18. Bronson Ross

19. Franco van der Merwe

20. Roger Wilson

21. Michael Heaney

22. Stuart Olding

23. Louis Ludik

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