JJ Hanrahan will line out at full back for Munster on Friday night as they face the Newport Gwent Dragons in Rodney Parade. Head Coach Anthony Foley has named a much-changed Munster side, with seven changes to the starting XV that lined out against Cardiff Blues at the start of the month.
In the replacements, newcomer Pat Howard is in line to make his Munster debut while Dave O’Callaghan is named in his first match-day 23 since February after successfully rehabbing a knee injury.
With two changes to the front five, hooker Eusebio Guinazu makes his first start for the province while Stephen Archer takes the place of BJ Botha at tight-head.
Fresh from making his Ireland debut against Georgia on Sunday, returning international Robin Copeland is named at 8, while Paddy Butler moves to blindside with Sean Dougall starting at openside.
After making his third appearance for Ireland last weekend, Ian Keatley is also released back to the province and he starts at 10 with Cathal Sheridan joining him in the half-backs.
Denis Hurley renews his centre partnership with Andrew Smith; Ronan O’Mahony and Andrew Conway are named out wide, while Hanrahan wears the number 15 jersey for the first time.
On the injury front, Barry O’Mahony, who was stretchered off from training on Monday afternoon, underwent surgery on his right ankle in Dublin yesterday and he has been ruled out for the immediate future.
Munster:
JJ Hanrahan; Andrew Conway, Andrew Smith, Denis Hurley, Ronan O’Mahony; Ian Keatley, Cathal Sheridan; John Ryan, Eusebio Guinazu, Stephen Archer; Donncha O’Callaghan Capt., Billy Holland; Paddy Butler, Sean Dougall, Robin Copeland.
Replacements: Duncan Casey, Alan Cotter, BJ Botha, Dave O’Callaghan, CJ Stander, Duncan Williams, Pat Howard, Johne Murphy.
Newport Gwent Dragons:
Geraint Rhys Jones, Tyler Morgan, Ross Wardle, Ashley Smith, Hallam Amos, Dorian Jones, Richie Rees; Brok Harris, Elliot Dee, Dan Way, Cory Hill, Rynard Landman (c), James Thomas, Nic Cudd, Lewis Evans.
Replacements: T. Rhys Thomas, Owen Evans, Lloyd Fairbrother, Matthew Screech, Ollie Griffiths, Jonathan Evans, Jason Tovey, Ashton Hewitt.
Please note this game is not televised. Follow match updates via @munsterrugby on Twitter.
