Wilkinson In Newcastle Side

England World Cup hero Jonny Wilkinson will start in his familiar number 10 role for the Newcastle Falcons when they take on Munster in Thomond Park (Monday 7pm).

England World Cup hero Jonny Wilkinson will start in his familiar number 10 role for the Newcastle Falcons when they take on Munster in Thomond Park (Monday 7pm). Wilkinson played for the opening half of the game against Connacht but the indications are that he will have longer game time on Monday in alltogether stronger looking Falcons outfit.

Also included in the Newcastle side are Tongan wing Epi Taione, New Zealander Mark Mayerhofler, South African prop Marius Hurter and number 8 Welsh international Colin Charvis.

Munster coach Alan Gaffney has made four changes, from the side that started in the opening game, last week against London Irish.

Shaun Payne who was not considered for the London Irish game comes onto the right wing in place of Mossie Lawlor; James Story makes his first start since joing from Ospreys at outside centre at the expense of Mike Mullins; Mike Prendergast replaces Eoin Reddan and youngster Donnacha Ryan (UCC) comes into the second row in place of the injured Tom Hayes. Hayes damaged an elbow in the game against London Irish and was replaced by Ryan who impressed on his senior debut and he retains the number four jersey as partner to Trevor Hogan.

It would be unwise to read too much into the changes as Gaffney has named a bench of nine with the probable intention of using as many players as possible in this the last game before the competitive season gets underway (v Ospreys, Swansea Friday September 3rd).

Munster C Cullen; S Payne, J Storey, J Holland, A Horgan; P Burke, M Prendergast; G McIlwham, J Flannery, M Storey; D Ryan, T Hogan, S Keogh, D Leamy, J Williams capt. Replacements: M McPhail, M Mullins, R Henderson, M Lawlor, E Reddan, J O’Connor, S O’Connor, J Blaney, E McGovern.