Connacht name team for Munster clash

Head Coach Eric Elwood is able to call on lock Mike McCarthy and prop Brett Wilkinson who have been involved with the Irish 6Nations team and welcome back John Muldoon, Kyle Tonetti and Henry Fa'afili to the starting lineup. Ronan Loughney moves back to tight-head prop where he has excelled this season and is joined in the front-row by hooker Ethienne Reynecke and Wilkinson. McCarthy and Swift renew their second-row partnership while the Academy's athletic Mick Kearney joins Ray Ofisa and John Muldoon in the back-row.

Frank Murphy and Miah Nikora continue their half-back pairing with Henry Fa'afili and Eoin Griffin making up the centres. The back three consists of Tiernan O'Halloran, Kyle Tonetti and captain Gavin Duffy at full-back.

The bench sees sub-Academy prop Finlay Bealham making the match-day squad for the first time alongside the return to fitness of Rodney Ah You and both will look to make a big impression from the bench.

The match looks set to break a new record for the highest attendance of a league game for Connacht. The previous record was broken on New Year's Day when over 6,500 fans packed out the Sportsground for the visit of Leinster and ticket sales for the Munster match have exceeded that already setting up another titanic inter-provincial clash.

Connacht Rugby will be launching their exceptionally popular Season Tickets in the coming days and supporters should keep an eye on www.connachtrugby.ie to avail of the best offers.

Connacht XV to face Munster (The Sportsground - Saturday 24th March - ko 19.45)

15 Gavin Duffy (C)
14 Kyle Tonetti
13 Eoin Griffin
12 Henry Fa'afili
11 Tiernan O'Halloran
10 Miah Nikora
09 Frank Murphy
01 Brett Wilkinson
02 Ethienne Reynecke
03 Ronan Loughney
04 Michael Swift
05 Mike McCarthy
06 Mick Kearney
07 Ray Ofisa
08 John Muldoon

16 Adrian Flavin
17 Finlay Bealham
18 Rodney Ah You
19 Eoin McKeon
20 Eoghan Grace
21 Paul O'Donohoe
22 Matthew Jarvis
23 Dave McSharry