TABLE TOPPERS MUNSTER have made a host of changes for their Guinness Pro12 inter-provincial meeting with Connacht at the Sportsground tomorrow evening [KO 5.30pm, TG4].
Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus has made 11 changes in total from the side that earned a bonus-point win over Leinster on St Stephen’s Day, with Francis Saili making his first start of the season.
The Kiwi will be joined in the centre by academy player Dan Goggin, who makes his fourth start of the season, with Duncan Williams and Ian Keatley the half-back pairing.
The southern province’s leading try scorer this season, Ronan O’Mahony, is one of only four players retained by Munster, along with James Cronin, Jean Kleyn and Tommy O’Donnell. Keith Earls returns on the opposite flank.
Andrew Conway’s elbow injury is not as bad as first feared and he takes his place at full-back.
Rhys Marshall and Stephen Archer join Cronin in the front row, while captain for the day Billy Holland and Jack O’Donoghue start alongside O’Donnell in the back-row, with Dave Foley also earning a start place.
On the bench, Kevin O’Byrne is in line to make his first appearance since picking up an injury against Scarlets on the opening day of the season.
Munster:
15. Andrew Conway
14. Keith Earls
13. Francis Saili
12. Dan Goggin
11. Ronan O’Mahony
10. Ian Keatley
9. Duncan Williams
1. James Cronin
2. Rhys Marshall
3. Stephen Archer
4. Jean Kleyn
5. Dave Foley
6. Billy Holland (captain)
7. Tommy O’Donnell
8. Jack O’Donoghue
Replacements:
16. Kevin O’Byrne
17. Dave Kilcoyne
18. Thomas Du Toit
19. Robin Copeland
20. Conor Oliver
21. Te Aihe Toma
22. Rory Scannell
23. Jaco Taute
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