Munster change four as some internationals return

John Hayes, David Wallace and Frankie Sheahan are put straight back into the Munster team for their clash with Leinster this weekend.

Munster have made four changes to their side for their mouth-watering clash with Leinster this Saturday.

Having been released early by the national management from their 10-week pre-season training block, David Wallace, John Hayes and Frankie Sheahan are all included, at the expense of Stephen Keogh, Frank Roche and Jerry Flannery respectively. But there is a call-up for Eoin Reddan in place of Mike Prendergast at scrumhalf as well.

Munster will be looking to build on some of the exciting running that saw them score four tries against Connacht last week and in which Christian Cullen featured prominently. However, they will be seeking to produce more solidity up front, where they struggled somewhat in the set pieces and against Connacht’s rolling maul.

Certainly, the return of some of their big hitters in the pack should help them in this regard, though it could prove necessary against a Leinster side that have shown some steel in their campaign to date under the former Munster coach Declan Kidney.

Munster (v Leinster): C Cullen, J Kelly, S Payne, J Holland, A Horgan, P Burke, E Reddan, G McIlwham, F Sheahan, J Hayes, T Bowman, T Hogan, D Leamy, D Wallace, J Williams.
Replacements: F Roche, J Flannery, D Ryan, S Keogh, M Prendergast, J Storey, R Henderson.