MUNSTER centre Chris Farrell will make his first Six Nations appearance against Wales tomorrow after he was named in Joe Schmidt’s starting lineup.
Farrell, who joined Munster from French side Grenoble last summer, replaces Robbie Henshaw and will partner Connacht’s Bundee Aki in the centre.
The inclusion of Farrell brings the total Munster contingent to five after Conor Murray, Keith Earls, Peter O’Mahony and CJ Stander were also named in Schmidt’s starting XV. It will be the former Ulsterman’s third cap for Ireland.
Elsewhere, Munster have named their side that faces Glasgow Warriors in the Guinness Pro14 tonight at Irish Independent Park.
Head coach Johann van Graan has made 12 changes to the team that lost 25-18 to Cardiff Blues last time out.
Simon Zebo returns at full-back along with the fit again Andrew Conway on the right-wing. Alex Wootton fills the left- wing position.
Sammy Arnold and Dan Goggin are named at centre, while Tyler Bleyendaal and James Hart are named at out-half and scrum-half respectively.
Niall Scannell starts ahead of Rhys Marshall at hooker and he will be joined in the front-row by James Cronin and Stephen Archer.
Billy Holland will captain the team from second-row where he will be partnered with Jean Kleyn. Dave O’Callaghan gets his first start of the season at flanker alongside Chris Cloete and Robin Copeland.
Tonight’s game in Cork has a 7pm kick-off and is live on Sky Sports.
MUNSTER: Simon Zebo; Andrew Conway, Sammy Arnold, Dan Goggin, Alex Wootton; Tyler Bleyendaal, James Hart; James Cronin, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; Jean Kleyn, Billy Holland; Dave O’Callaghan, Chris Cloete, Robin Copeland; Replacements: Rhys Marshall, Dave Kilcoyne, Brian Scott, Gerbrandt Grobler, Jack O’Donoghue, Duncan Williams, Ian Keatley, Calvin Nash.
