Close Encounter at Musgrave Park

There will be little or nothing to choose between Munster and Connacht when they meet this evening in the Celtic League quarter-final in Musgrave Park (7.35pm). As they always do, no matter who the opposition is, with home advantage, Munster will start favourites but they will hardly need reminding that Connacht have already beaten Leinster in Donnybrook. That night, Leinster were raging hot favourites, a fact that made little difference to the western province who were the first visiting team to win in Donnybrook in almost four years. So neither side need be under any illusion about what is required tonight.

Connacht coach Steph Nel has reshuffled his side somewhat with Shane Moore brought in to partner Darren Yapp in the centre and Gavin Duffy on the wing, Mark McHugh at full-back.

Paul O’Connell returns to the Munster second row after recovering from surgery. That means Mick O’Driscoll drops to the bench while Killian Keane is at full back and Colm McMahon is on the right wing.

Munster. Killian Keane; Colm McMahon, Mike Mullins, Jason Holland, Mossie Lawler; Ronan O’Gara, Peter Stringer; Marcus Horan, Frank Sheahan, John Hayes; Paul O’Connell, Donncha O’Callaghan; Jim Williams,(capt) Alan Quinlan, Anthony Foley.

Connacht: Mark McHugh; Gavin Duffy, Darren Yapp, Shane Moore (capt.), Ted Robinson; Eric Elwood, Chris Keane; Ronan McCormack, Marnus Uijs, Peter Bracken; Damian Browne, Rowen Frost; Paul Neville, John O’Sullivan, John O’Connor.
Replacements: F. Boiroux; Jerry Flannery; Michael Swift; Eric Peters; Eoin Reddan; James Norton; Wayne Munn.