Neither Munster nor Connacht have rested too many players ahead of their match at Thomond Park on Saturday at 19 35.
The game is the final regular season match for both sides, with the two having already claimed play-off spots in Conference A.
Munster have named Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell and Stephen Archer in the front-three, with Jean Kleyn and Tadhg Beirne opening at four and five respectively.
Peter O’Mahony captains the team from blindside flanker once more, with Chris Cloete at openside and CJ Stander completing the pack at No 8.
Conor Murray and Tyler Bleyendaal continue their half-back partnership in the absence of Joey Carbery, as Dan Goggin and Chris Farrell line-up outside them in the centre.
Calvin Nash begins the game on the left-wing, with Andrew Conway on the right and the ever-present Mike Haley at 15.
The visitors have a large number of experienced players to call upon from the replacements with the likes of John Ryan, Billy Holland, Arno Botha and JJ Hanrahan among them
? Team Named | 4 changes for Saturday’s game against Connacht.
Munster’s Player of the Year Captain @peterom6 & Young Player of the Year @DanGoggin121113 start for round 21 of the Guinness PRO14 @thomondstadium #MUNvCON #SUAF ?
Team news >> https://t.co/uVDI3Uz5s4 pic.twitter.com/XvNHbznoKp— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) April 26, 2024
Speaking before the game Munster head coach Johann van Graan has called on his team to bounce back from their Champions Cup semi-final loss to Saracens during the inter-provincial derby on Saturday.
“We as a group, as a coaching group, as players, we all win together, and we all lose together. We want to improve, and it starts again on Saturday night against Connacht,” he said.
The hosts start with Matthew Burke, Tom McCarthy
and fit again Finley Bealham in the front-row, with Joe Maksymiw and James Cannon
in the second-row.
Eoin McKeon, captain Jarrar Butler and
Robin Copeland conclude the pack at six, seven and eight respectively.
The experienced Kieran Marmion is at
scrum-half, alongside debutant Conor Dean at fly-half. Tom Daly and Bundee Aki
are paired in the centre after Aki was cleared of any wrongdoing for mistakenly
“liking” Israel Falou’s anti-LGBT post that has dominated the headlines recently.
Stephen Fitzgerald and Niyi Adeolokun are
on the wings with Tiernan O’Hallaron at full-back.
There is a chance to impress from the bench
for the eight replacements with Caolin Blade among them, who is looking for game-time
to try and sneak into Joe Schmidt’s World Cup squad.
Connacht coach Andy Friend is looking
forward to facing Munster and knows his side face a tough challenge on Saturday.
“Munster are an outstanding side. We saw that when we played them at home earlier in the season and they have been even better since. There is still a huge incentive for our players. We know that these interpro fixtures always bring out the best in our boys and we know that going to Thomond Park is a massive challenge,” he said.
Munster are still in with a chance of
securing top-spot in Conference A and a home semi-final with it, however, they
need to beat Connacht and hope that Edinburgh defeat Glasgow. On the other
hand, Connacht are guaranteed third in the conference and are looking toward a
quarter-final showdown with Ulster next weekend.
