JOHN RYAN RETURNS to boost the Munster pack for tomorrow evening’s Guinness Pro14 trip to face a strong Scarlets side [kick-off 5pm, TG4 & eir Sport].
The Ireland prop, who played 17 minutes off the bench in last weekend’s win in Rome, has been released back to the province by Joe Schmidt and starts in the front row.
Ryan’s inclusion is one of seven changes made by Johann van Graan to the side which beat Ospreys to keep Munster on top of Conference A.
He is joined in the pack by Jean Kleyn, who has recovered from the illness which forced him out of last week’s win, and Conor Oliver who takes his place in the back row.
Bill Johnston and Alby Mathewson form a new-look pairing in the half-backs, 25-year-old Rory Scannell becomes the youngest ever player to reach a century of appearances for the province, while Ronan O’Mahony starts on the right wing.
Hosts Scarlets can call on five of their Welsh internationals for the clash with Leigh Halfpenny, Wyn Jones and Ryan Elias all named to start while Rhys Patchell and Steff Evans are among the replacements.
Regular skipper Jake Ball remains with Wales and is replaced in the second row by Lewis Rawlins.
Scarlets
15. Leigh Halfpenny
14. Ioan Nicholas
13. Kieron Fonotia (captain)
12. Paul Asquith
11. Johnny McNicholl
10. Dan Jones
9. Kieran Hardy
1. Wyn Jones
2. Ryan Elias
3. Werner Kruger
4. Josh Helps
5. Lewis Rawlins
6. Josh Macleod
7. Dan Davis
8. Uzair Cassiem
Replacements:
16. Marc Jones
17. Phil Price
18. Javan Sebastian
19. Tom Price
20. Will Boyde
21. Sam Hidalgo-Clyne
22. Rhys Patchell
23. Steff Evans
Munster:
15. Mike Haley
14. Ronan O’Mahony
13. Dan Goggin
12. Rory Scannell
11. Darren Sweetnam
10. Bill Johnston
9. Alby Mathewson
1. Jeremy Loughman
2. Rhys Marshall
3. John Ryan
4. Jean Kleyn
5. Billy Holland (captain)
6. Fineen Wycherley
7. Conor Oliver
8. Arno Botha
Replacements:
16. Kevin O’Byrne
17. Liam O’Connor
18. Stephen Archer
19. Darren O’Shea
20. Jack O’Donoghue
21. Neil Cronin
22. Tyler Bleyendaal
23. Jaco Taute
Bernard Jackman joins Murray Kinsella and Gavan Casey to discuss the backlash to World Rugby’s league proposal, captaincy styles, sports psychology and more in The42 Rugby Weekly.
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