Coach Tony McGahan makes seven changes, two of those positional for Saturday’s game against London Irish. Johne Murphy takes over at full back from Paul Warwick with David Wallace switching to blindside flanker in place of James Coughlan as Niall Ronan is handed the number 7 shirt. The only other change up front sees Mick O’Driscoll preferred to Donncha O’Callaghan as lock partner for Paul O’Connell. In the backs Lifeimi Mafi replaces Sam Tuitupou and Tomas O’Leary starts ahead of Peter Stringer on this occasion.
Munster by and large retain the same personnel that were involved last weekend, for Saturday’s Heineken Cup clash with London Irish The three absentees are Donnacha Ryan who tweaked a hamstring last Sunday, Paul Warwick who suffered a heavy knock in that game and Sam Tuitupou who picked up a hamstring injury in training. The additions are Denis Hurley who starts on the left wing and on the bench, Scott Deasy and Tom Gleeson who along with Hurley, featured in the British & Irish Cup win over Nottingham the Friday before the Toulon match, Deasy landing all of Munster’s points that evening in Meadow Lane.
Munster: J Murphy; D Howlett, K Earls, L Mafi, D Hurley; R O’Gara, T O’Leary; W du Preez, D Varley, J Hayes; M O’Driscoll, P O’Connell; D Wallace, N Ronan, D Leamy capt. Replacements: M Sherry, D Hurley, T Buckley, D O’Callaghan, J Coughlan, P Stringer, S Deasy, T Gleeson.
