Taute Replaces Earls In Munster Team
Munster director of rugby Rassie Erasmus has made just one change to the starting line-up for Sunday’s European Champions Cup opener away to Racing 92 at Stade Yves-du-Manoir (kick-off 4.15pm local time/3.15pm Irish time).
With Keith Earls still following the return-to-play protocols, South African international Jaco Taute will make his European debut for the province at outside centre.
There was better news for Dave Kilcoyne who has now completed his return-to-play protocols and will start in the front row, while this weekend sees out-half Tyler Bleyendaal and right winger Darren Sweetnam make their European debuts.
Munster Academy prop Brian Scott and centre Dan Goggin are also included in their first European matchday squads after being named on the bench.
It is as you were in the pack with Kilcoyne joining Niall Scannell and John Ryan in the front row. Donnacha Ryan and Billy Holland pair up in the second row with captain Peter O’Mahony, Tommy O’Donnell and CJ Stander again forming the back row trio.
Bleyendaal makes his first Champions Cup appearance alongside Conor Murray in the half-backs, with Taute and Rory Scannell forming a new partnership in the midfield. A back-three of Ronan O’Mahony, Sweetnam and Simon Zebo completes the selection.
MUNSTER (v Racing 92): Simon Zebo; Darren Sweetnam, Jaco Taute, Rory Scannell, Ronan O’Mahony; Tyler Bleyendaal, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell, John Ryan, Donnacha Ryan, Billy Holland, Peter O’Mahony (capt), Tommy O’Donnell, CJ Stander.
Replacements: Duncan Casey, Brian Scott, Stephen Archer, Robin Copeland, Jack O’Donoghue, Duncan Williams, Ian Keatley, Dan Goggin.