Four Changes For Munster

Kieran Lewis comes onto the wing in place of Doug Howlett in the only change to the backline, Anthony Horgan named on the bench, while the one positional change up front sees Alan Quinlan return to the more familiar role of wing-forward with Donnacha Ryan who mised the game against Edinburgh because of a family bereavement, restored to partner captain Mick O'Driscoll in the second row.
The other changes see Darragh Hurley comes into the front row in place of Federico Pucciariello and with Ryan's return, Niall Ronan has to be content with a place on the bench.

Meanwhile The Dragons will be looking to make it and Irish double following their 26-16 home triumph over Ulster Rugby last time out, a victory that lifted them to seventh in the Magners League table. Their hopes are boosted by the news that their Welsh international prop Rhys Thomas, is part of a 24-man squad named for match against Munster.

Dragons Head Coach Paul Turner said, "Getting Rhys back is great news for us. Adam Black is out with a neck injury and Rhys is integral to our forwards work which was so important in our win against Ulster last week."

"Although Munster are without a lot of players through international duty, that is tempered somewhat by our injury list, he said. We've lost both our wings in Fussell and Wyatt as well as Charvis, Stcherbina and Gomer Davies who are all quality players. However, this game is going to offer a chance for some of our players to prove themselves in a top-level game and I'm sure they will be keen to seize the opportunity with both hands.

"You don't forget experiences like our loss to Munster in Musgrave Park earlier in the season in a hurry. But we came back to beat Ulster so coming into this return match off the back of another win against Ulster, we are looking to lay that match to rest. Having said that, the Munster side is pretty much the one which gave the All Blacks a run for their money back in November, so there is no doubt that this is going to be a tough match."

Munster: Denis Hurley; Kieran Lewis, Keith Earls, Lifeimi Mafi, Ciaran O'Boyle; Paul Warwick, Peter Stringer; Darragh Hurley, Denis Fogarty, Tony Buckley; Mick O'Driscoll capt, Donnacha Ryan; Alan Quinlan, Denis Leamy, Nick Williams. Replacements: Michael Essex, Timmy Ryan, Billy Holland, Niall Ronan, Duncan Williams, Jeremy Manning, Anthony Horgan,