Munster Side To Face Connacht

Munster coach Alan Gaffney makes ten changes from the side that started against The Ospreys for Monday s Celtic League clash with Connacht at the Galway Sportsground (2pm).

Munster coach Alan Gaffney makes ten changes from the side that started against The Ospreys for Monday s Celtic League clash with Connacht at the Galway Sportsground (2pm).

Marcus Horan, Denis Leamy and Donncha O Callaghan are the forwards who remain from the game in Cork while Christian Cullen and Paul Devlin are the only backs who, besides those named on the bench (Prendergast, Lawlor and Payne) may have to forego a second helping of turkey and ham on Christmas Day.

Last time around, Gaffney gave his captain Foley, prop Hayes, lock O Connell and winger Horgan a rest in order principally to give others some game time and this time around it s the turn of Ronan O Gara, Peter Stringer, Rob Henderson, Mike Mullins Alan Quinlan and Jim Williams to be given time out while the likes of Eoin Reddan, Paul Burke, Jason Holland, James Storey and Stephen Keogh get to show what they can do.

In the case of Paul Devlin it s a question of continuing his re-introduction to the Union game and so far that process has gone well, astutely managed by what one (bearded) journalist terms the Munster Brains Trust .

15. Christian Cullen 14. Paul Devlin 13. James Storey 12. Jason Holland 11. Anthony Horgan 10.Paul Burke 9. Eoin Reddan 1. Marcus Horan 2. Jerry Flannery 3. John Hayes 4. Donncha O Callaghan 5. Paul O Connell 6. Stephen Keogh 7. Denis Leamy 8. Anthony Foley. Replacements. 16.Mike Storey. 17. Frank Sheahan 18. Trevor Hogan 19. Alan Quinlan 20. Mike Prendergast 21. Shaun Payne 22. Mossy Lawlor.