Munster begin their Champions Cup campaign away to Castres Olympique on Sunday afternoon (kick-off 2pm local time/1pm Irish time), with Rassie Erasmus making five changes to the side that lost to Leinster last week.
There are three alterations in the back-line where the fit-again Simon Zebo returns to take his place at full-back, Darren Sweetnam is named on the right wing, and Rory Scannell is restored to midfield where he is partnered by Champions Cup debutant Chris Farrell.
Keith Earls is retained on the left wing after an impressive seasonal debut last Saturday that saw him score a brace of tries, while Tyler Bleyendaal makes a positional switch from centre to renew his half-back partnership with Conor Murray.
In the forwards, newcomer Mark Flanagan will make his first start for the province and his Champions Cup debut, as he joins the squad’s most-capped player, Billy Holland, in the engine room.
Stephen Archer is slotted back into the front row alongside Niall Scannell and Dave Kilcoyne and it is as you were across the back row with Tommy O’Donnell, captain Peter O’Mahony and CJ Stander combining for the round 1 clash at Stade Pierre-Antoine.
Although Munster and Castres have not met since the 2011/12 season, this will be the 13th time the sides meet in Europe and, in turn, it becomes the most-played fixture in the tournament’s history.
MUNSTER (v Castres Olympique): Simon Zebo; Darren Sweetnam, Chris Farrell, Rory Scannell, Keith Earls; Tyler Bleyendaal, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer, Mark Flanagan, Billy Holland. Peter O’Mahony (capt), Tommy O’Donnell, CJ Stander.
Replacements: Rhys Marshall, Liam O’Connor, John Ryan, Robin Copeland, Jack O’Donoghue, Duncan Williams, Ian Keatley, Andrew Conway.
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