Munster Make Five Changes For Belfast Trip
Munster director of rugby Rassie Erasmus has made five changes for Friday’s return to GUINNESS PRO12 action against provincial rivals Ulster at Kingspan Stadium (kick-off 7.05pm).
One change is made to the pack with Jack O’Donoghue starting at number 8 while, across the back-line, Duncan Williams and Ian Keatley form the half-back partnership with Ronan O’Mahony and Andrew Conway both returning to the back-three. Friday’s derby game will also see scrum half Williams make his 100th PRO12 appearance.
Should they feature from the bench, Academy hooker Vincent O’Brien and Young Munster scrum half Abrie Griesel will make their senior debuts for the province.
Achieving interprovincial success with the Munster Under-20s last season, O’Brien represented Ireland at this year’s World Rugby Under-20 Championship. Griesel, a former South Africa Under-20 representative, has trained with the Munster squad in recent months.
A number of the province’s international players are unavailable for selection and, in managing player-load, out-half Tyler Bleyendaal – last week’s man-of-the-match against Glasgow Warriors – will also miss the round 7 encounter.
MUNSTER (v Ulster): Andrew Conway; Darren Sweetnam, Jaco Taute, Rory Scannell, Ronan O’Mahony; Ian Keatley, Duncan Williams; Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell, John Ryan, Donnacha Ryan, Billy Holland, Peter O’Mahony (capt), Tommy O’Donnell, Jack O’Donoghue.
Replacements: Vincent O’Brien, Brian Scott, Stephen Archer, Darren O’Shea, Robin Copeland, Abriel Griesel, Alex Wootton, Dan Goggin.