GUINNESS PRO12 Preview: Munster v Ulster

The opening interprovincial fixture of the season has some added intrigue with a number of Ireland players returning from Rugby World Cup duty. So. can Munster crown their ‘Night of the Living Red’ with a derby win, or will Ulster spoil the Halloween party at Thomond Park?

GUINNESS PRO12: Friday, October 30

MUNSTER (3rd) v ULSTER (5th), Thomond Park, 6pm (live TG4/BBC 2 Northern Ireland)

Team News: Munster head coach Anthony Foley has named his team for Friday’s interprovincial clash with Ulster. Returning Ireland internationals Simon Zebo and Donnacha Ryan are included in the matchday squad, with new signing Mario Sagario in line to make his first appearance for the province.

In total, Foley makes seven changes to the Munster side that lost away to the table-topping Scarlets last Friday night.

James Cronin and Mike Sherry come back in and join BJ Botha in the front row, while Dave Foley starts at number 4 for the first time this season with his second row partner Mark Chisholm continuing at 5.

In the back row, captain CJ Stander makes the switch to blindside flanker and Jack O’Donoghue returns at openside with Robin Copeland reverting to number 8 for the much-anticipated encounter in Limerick.

After featuring twice off the bench in Munster’s most recent PRO12 outings, Tomas O’Leary will make his first start since returning to the province. The experienced Ireland scrum half partners Ian Keatley at half-back.

Francis Saili comes back in to start alongside Denis Hurley in the centre for the first time, while the final change comes in the back-three and sees the returning Zebo start on the right wing. Gerhard van den Heever remains on the left wing with Andrew Conway, a try scorer in his last two games, continuing at full-back.

Having joined the province on a three-month contract, Uruguayan prop Sagario could feature for the first time in Munster red after being named among the replacements. Ryan, another returning player from the Rugby World Cup, is also on bench duty.

Munster v Ulster family terrace packs for €;40 and general tickets can be bought online here, from the Munster Rugby Ticket Offices in Thomond Park and Irish Independent Park or by calling 0818 719 300.

With the school mid-term break, Munster Rugby are getting into the spooky spirit of things with a free Halloween Fancy Dress party prior to kick-off in The Dugout Bar and Fanzone Plaza.

The party is free and open to all children under the age of 16 years and the Munster Rugby Supporters Club will be on hand with plenty of prizes up for grabs for best dressed and more.

This is sure to be a great night for all the family, so make sure to get dressed up and join all the fans at The Dugout Bar and Fanzone Plaza for Munster’s own ‘Night of the Living Red’!

Meanwhile, Darren Cave and Paddy Jackson have been named in Ulster’s starting line-up for the first interprovincial match of the season, while fellow Ireland international Chris Henry returns to the matchday 23 on the bench.

Cave and Jackson came off the bench during last weekend’s bonus point win over Cardiff Blues as Ulster extended their unbeaten run at Kingspan Stadium to 14 PRO12 games.

There are two other changes to the team as head coach Neil Doak continues to rotate his squad during this block of 16 consecutive fixtures.

Peter Nelson returns to the side at full-back and is joined in the back-three by internationals Craig Gilroy and Andrew Trimble. Paul Marshall and Stuart McCloskey, both of whom scored tries against Cardiff, are retained at scrum half and inside centre respectively.

The only change up front sees Andrew Warwick replace Callum Black at loosehead prop, joining captain Rob Herring and Wiehahn Herbst in the front row.

Lewis Stevenson and Franco van der Merwe continue their second row partnership, with Roger Wilson, Sean Reidy and Nick Williams, the man-of-the-match last Friday, once again combining in the back row.

Henry, who competed at the Rugby World Cup with Cave and Jackson, will provide cover for the loose forward trio in Limerick. Dan Tuohy has followed the return-to-play protocols after his concussion in the Edinburgh game and will join Henry on the bench.

Paul Rowley, recruited from London Welsh in the summer, is in line to make his first competitive appearance of the season after being named as the reserve scrum half. John Andrew, Callum Black, Ricky Lutton, Ian Humphreys and Sam Arnold are the other players in the matchday selection.

MUNSTER: Andrew Conway; Simon Zebo, Francis Saili, Denis Hurley, Gerhard van den Heever; Ian Keatley, Tomas O’Leary; James Cronin, Mike Sherry, BJ Botha, Dave Foley, Mark Chisholm, CJ Stander (capt), Jack O’Donoghue, Robin Copeland.

Replacements: Duncan Casey, John Ryan, Mario Sagario, Donnacha Ryan, Jordan Coghlan, Duncan Williams, Rory Scannell, Ronan O’Mahony.

ULSTER: Peter Nelson; Craig Gilroy, Darren Cave, Stuart McCloskey, Andrew Trimble; Paddy Jackson, Paul Marshall; Andrew Warwick, Rob Herring (capt), Wiehahn Herbst, Lewis Stevenson, Franco van der Merwe, Roger Wilson, Sean Reidy, Nick Williams.

Replacements: John Andrew, Callum Black, Ricky Lutton, Dan Tuohy, Chris Henry, Paul Rowley, Ian Humphreys, Sam Arnold.

Referee: Marius Mitrea (Italy)
Assistant Referees: Gary Conway, Nigel Correll (both Ireland)
Television Match Official: Alan Rogan (Ireland)