Munster Make Two Changes
Following on from their first round win in Edinburgh, Munster head coach Rob Penney has made just two changes to the team for Friday’s RaboDirect PRO12 clash with Benetton Treviso at Thomond Park (kick-off 8pm).
The two changes are up front with Stephen Archer getting in on this occasion ahead of BJ Botha, while David O’Callaghan gets the nod over Paddy Butler at number 6.
Rob Penney announced the side this morning after training at a sunny University of Limerick where the squad spent 90 minutes being put through their paces by Penney, backs coach Simon Mannix and forwards coach Anthony Foley.
New flanker Sean Dougall made his competitive bow for Munster in the 23-18 defeat of Edinburgh, and is hoping to play his part in another victory in front of a big Thomond Park crowd.
“I’ve played an ‘A’ game (for Ulster) at Thomond and played an Under-20s game there, but this will obviously be the biggest game I’ve played there and of course it’s something I’m really looking forward to,” he said.
“They (Treviso) beat the holders the Ospreys in the opening round It’s early days and we’ve still things to work on but yes, it was a good positive start for us and we hope we can step up a notch again on Friday night.”
Tickets for the Munster v Benetton Treviso game are available to buy online here. You can also purchase them from the Munster Rugby ticket offices and the Munster Rugby Stores, or by calling 021-4315767 or 061-421103.
MUNSTER (v Benetton Treviso): Denis Hurley; Doug Howlett (capt), Casey Laulala, James Downey, Luke O’Dea; Ian Keatley, Duncan Williams; Wian du Preez, Damien Varley, Stephen Archer, Donncha O’Callaghan, Billy Holland, David O’Callaghan, Sean Dougall, James Coughlan.
Replacements: Mike Sherry, David Kilcoyne, BJ Botha, David Foley, Paddy Butler, Peter Stringer, Scott Deasy, Ivan Dineen.