NEW signings Thaakir Abrahams, Tom Farrell and Billy Burns will make their debuts for Munster in Saturday’s URC opener with Connacht at Thomond Park, 5.30pm.
Elsewhere, Jean Kleyn makes a welcome return from a 10-month absence due to an eye injury and starts in the second row.
Mike Haley is named at full-back with Abrahams, and Shane Daly on either wing.
There are first-time half-back and centre partnerships as Craig Casey and Burns start together and Alex Nankivell and Farrell partner up in midfield.
Jeremy Loughman, captain Diarmuid Barron and John Ryan pack down in the front row with Kleyn and Fineen Wycherley in the engine room.
Academy flanker Ruadhán Quinn, John Hodnett and Gavin Coombes complete the starting XV.
Munster: Mike Haley; Thaakir Abrahams, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Shane Daly; Billy Burns, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron, captain, John Ryan; Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley; Ruadhán Quinn, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Niall Scannell, Josh Wycherley, Oli Jager, Alex Kendellen, Jack O’Donoghue, Ethan Coughlan, Tony Butler, Seán O’Brien.
