Munster make seven changes for visit of Clermont

Anthony Foley welcomes back skipper O’Mahony, Paul O’Connell, Conor Murray and Simon Zebo

Paul O’Connell returns to Munster’s starting line up for tomorrow’s European Challenge Cup game against Clermont at Thomond Park
Paul O’Connell returns to Munster’s starting line up for tomorrow’s European Challenge Cup game against Clermont at Thomond Park

Munster welcome back captain Peter O'Mahony back to their starting line for tomorrow's European Challenge Cup game against Clermont Auvergne at Thomond Park.

Fellow internationals Paul O'Connell, Conor Murray, Dave Foley and Simon Zebo also return to the side with coach Anthony Foley making seven changes from the team who saw off Ulster 22-21 last Friday night.

With Donncha O'Callaghan's appeal to lift his two week ban after being cited for a kick on Stuart Olding unsuccessful, coach Foley has paired Paul O'Connell and Dave Foley, who was man of the match on Ireland debut against Georgia, in the second row.

Dave Kilcoyne, Duncan Casey and BJ Botha make up the rest of the front five, while CJ Stander has kept his place at number eight.

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One of Ireland's brightest performers during the autumn internationals, Conor Murray, will link up with Ian Keatley at half back, while the return of Simon Zebo meaning Gerhard van den Heever switches wings.

MUNSTER: 15 Jones 14 van den Heever 13 Howard 12 Hurley 11 Simon Zebo 10 Keatley 9 Murray 1 Kilcoyne 2 Casey 3 Botha 4 O’Connell 5 Foley 6 O’Mahony (Captain) 7 O’Donnell 8 Stander

Replacements: 16 O’Byrne 17 Cronin 18 Archer 19 Holland 20 Dougall 21 Williams 22 Hanrahan 23Murphy

CLERMONT AUVERGNE: 15 Abendanon 14 Nakaitaci 13 Rougerie 12 Fofana 11 Nalaga 10 Lopez 9 Radosavljevic 1 Domingo 2 Kayser 3 Ric 4 Cudmore 5 Vahaamahna 6 Chouly (Captain) 7 Bonnaire 8 Lee

Replacements: 16 Ulugia 17 Debaty 18 Zrakashvu 19 Pierre 20 Lapandry 21 Lacrampe 22 James 23 Davies

Patrick Madden

Patrick Madden

Patrick Madden is a former sports journalist with The Irish Times