MUNSTER head coach Rob Penney has rung the changes ahead of this Sunday’s clash with Edinburgh in the Heineken Cup. Ian Keatley will start at 10 in the place of Ronan O’Gara, while Denis Hurley replaces him at 15. Change also has taken place at hooker, as Mike Sherry replaces Damien Varley. The final change on the field sees Donncha O’Callaghan shove Billy Holland to the bench.
The new look bench sees JJ Hanrahan and Felix Jones promoted from the ‘A’ side, while Peter Stringer makes way for Duncan Williams in a surprise switch.
Munster (v Edinburgh): Denis Hurley; Doug Howlett capt, Casey Laulala, James Downey, Simon Zebo; Ian Keatley, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Mick Sherry, BJ Botha; Donncha O’Callaghan, Paul O’Connell; Donnacha Ryan, Sean Dougall, Peter O’Mahony. Replacements: Damien Varley, Marcus Horan, Stephen Archer, Billy Holland, Paddy Butler, Duncan Williams, JJ Hanrahan, Felix Jones.
Peter Stringer has nearly 230 Munster caps to his credit and last weekend was in Paris with the senior squad but will bring his considerable experience to a Munster side who will be at short odds to take the points from an Aberavon side beaten narrowly by Rotherham Titans last weekend.
Scott Deasy partners Stringer at half back while Luke O’Dea is at full back, local lad Danny Barnes at outside centre and two time try scorer in the Albion game, Corey Hircock on the wing.
All in all it’s a pretty potent looking backline and there’s no shortage of experience up front in the shape of second rowers Dave Foley and Ian Nagle and a particularly seasoned backrow of Dave O’Callaghan who came off the bench to replace Paul O’Connel in Paris, Barry O’Mahony and Tommy O’Donnell.
Munster: Luke O’Dea; Ronan O’Mahony, Danny Barnes, Cian Bohane, Corey Hircock; Scott Deasy, Peter Stringer; Alan Cotter, Sean Henry capt, John Ryan; Ian Nagle, Dave Foley; Dave O’Callaghan, Barry O’Mahony, Tommy O’Donnell. Replacements: Duncan Casey, Christy Condon, Brian Hayes, Shane Buckley, Cathal Sheridan, Johnny Holland, Ivan Dineen.
