Dragons v Munster, Rodney Parade (7.35, live on RTÉ, Premier Sports)
The talented Ben O’Connor, a former Ireland under-20 international, makes a first start in his eighth appearance for Munster following the news that regular fullback Mike Haley required surgery on an ankle injury sustained in last weekend’s narrow Champions Cup defeat to the Northampton Saints.
Munster are without Tadhg Beirne, Jack Crowley, Conor Murray, Calvin Nash and Peter O’Mahony who are with the Ireland squad in Portugal but welcome back Shane Daly who missed last week’s game.
There are four academy players in the match day squad with another former Irish-20s player, hooker Danny Sheahan, set to make his debut off the bench. Niall Scannell is following the return-to-play protocols and misses out
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Dan Sheehan and James Lowe return from injury for Leinster’s URC clash against the Stormers
Diarmuid Kilgallen to play his first URC game for Munster as they take on Dragons
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Right wing Diarmuid Kilgallen, who grabbed a brace of tries last week against the Saints, will play his first URC game for the province. The former Roscrea and Connacht player gave Munster supporters a glimpse of his high-ceiling ability last week. Billy Burns and Ethan Coughlan take over at halfback from Crowley and Murray.
Tom Ahern and Jack O’Donoghue are promoted to the run-on team, with the latter taking over the captaincy. Munster interim head coach Ian Costello has opted for a six-two split on the bench with Paddy Patterson and Tony Butler covering the backline.
Lloyd Evans is one of six changes to the Dragons team, and is joined in a new halfback pairing by Morgan Lloyd. Jared Rosser returns to the wing, Harri Ackerman plays at inside centre, with Aneurin Owen again captaining the team, switching to the 13 jersey.
Hooker Brodie Coghlan comes into the frontrow, while former Lions and Wales international flanker Dan Lydiate is named at openside who plays seven. Ryan Woodman moves into the second row to partner Joe Davies.
Dragons interim head coach Filo Tiatia said: “Munster have some new coaches in place, and I like the way they are playing. They are playing a bit more than they used to and are a real threat. Munster’s set piece is traditionally always strong, they have some big weapons, really good players and are a quality team.”
The trick for the visitors is to vindicate that praise on the pitch. Munster played some superb rugby at times against the Saints, and they need to retain that courage and shape, without any drop-offs in concentration and application, in what will be a dogged, tough battle against a physically abrasive home side. If they do that they will win.
Dragons: H Anderson; R Dyer, A Owen, H Ackerman, J Rosser; L Evans, M Lloyd; R Martinez, B Coghlan, C Coleman; J Davies, R Woodman; S Lewis-Hughes, D Lydiate, T Basham. Replacements: J Benjamin, D Kelleher-Griffiths, P Latu, B Langton-Cryer, G Young, D Blacker, W Reed, H Wilson.
Munster: B O’Connor; D Kilgallen, T Farrell, R Scannell, S Daly; B Burns, E Coughlan; D Bleuler, D Barron, O Jager; F Wycherley, T Ahern; J O’Donoghue (capt), A Kendellen, G Coombes. Replacements: D Sheahan, K Ryan, J Ryan, E O’Connell, B Gleeson, P Patterson, T Butler, J Hodnett.
Referee: G Gnecchi (Italy)
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