Munster make 11 changes from the side that played in Treviso for tomorrow’s Magners League clash with Edinburgh at Thomond Park Stadium (7.50pm).Six of those who started in Trevsio, Doug Howlett, Lifeimi Mafi, Paul Warwick, Damian Varley, Tommy O’Donnell and James Coughlan remain in the starting XV, joined by four Wian du Preez, Mick O’Driscoll, Donnacha Ryan and Denis Hurley who came off the bench last Sunday in Stadio Monigo.
Peter Stringer who was withdrawn from the Munster squad ahead of the Treviso game to cover for Tomas O’Leary returns to the starting line-up partnered by Ronan O’Gara and Denis Leamy is the onle cvhange that Munster make to their back-row, the Cashel man to wear the captain’s armband.
Denis Fogarty and Marcus Horan return to the match day squad for the first time since September and October respectively having played with their clubs in recent weeks.
O’Driscoll who came on as a second half replacement against Treviso retains his place and sees the game tomorrow as a progression. “I think the positive from that game was the way we finished. We came back into it and put ourselves in position to achieve a victory had had looked unlikely when they went 16-3 up. We started with a lot of young lads that day and that’s something else I would consider a positive.
“So I think what we have to do is look to build on that finish from the start tomorrow night. We need to bounce back and keep ourselves in line for a place in the knock out stages of the Magners which was one of our aims at the start of the season.”
Munster: J Murphy, D Howlett, L Mafi, P Warwick, D Hurley, R O’Gara, P Stringer, W du Preez, D Varley, T Buckley; D Ryan, M O’Driscoll, D Leamy capt, T O’Donnell, J Coughlan. Replacements: D Fogarty, M Horan, S Archer, I Nagle, B Holland, D Williams, T Gleeson, S Zebo.
