Foley And Carney To Start For Munster

Anthony Foley and Brian Carney have been pencilled into the Munster team for tomorrow’s Heineken Cup Pool 5 encounter with Llanelli Scarlets at Stradey Park (kick-off 5.30pm).

Foley returns to the number 8 berth for his first start in this season’s Heineken Cup. The former captain won his 81st Heineken Cup cap as a second half replacement last month against Clermont Auvergne at Thomond Park.

With Foley anchoring the province’s scrum, Denis Leamy moves to blindside flanker with Donnacha Ryan, who started last week’s Magners League defeat to Leinster, dropping to the replacements bench.

The only other change from the side that started against Leinster last time out sees Carney return to the right wing after his recovery from a knee injury. Kieran Lewis, who occupied that berth seven days ago, is listed amongst the replacements.

In the injury-enforced absence of Paul O’Connell, the 2006 champions will be captained once again by out-half Ronan O’Gara who will be winning his 138th cap in Munster red

MUNSTER (v Llanelli Scarlets): Shaun Payne; Brian Carney, Rua Tipoki, Lifeimi Mafi, Ian Dowling; Ronan O’Gara (capt), Peter Stringer; Marcus Horan, Jerry Flannery, John Hayes, Donncha O’Callaghan, Mick O’Driscoll, Denis Leamy, David Wallace, Anthony Foley.

Replacements: Frankie Sheahan, Tony Buckley, Donnacha Ryan, James Coughlan, Gerry Hurley, Paul Warwick, Kieran Lewis.