Last week Munster announced that ten of their young players had agreed contract extensions and today, seven of those get the opportunity to show what they’re about when they feature in the Munster side that takes on Benetton Treviso at the Stadio Comunale di Monigo (2pm local).
It's a side that shows just three players retained in the starting XV from last time out (v London Irish), injury and international commitment means that Munster go about defending their position at the top of the table with Doug Howlett leading a youthful side that sees first starts for Simon Zebo and Dave Foley while Academy player, UL Bohemians scrum-half Cathal Sheridan could win his first cap off the bench.
The home side are also shorn of their stars with eight involved in yesterday's game in Twickenham but Munster's strength in depth faces the greater examination and today's game does present opportunities for those whose names might be that familiar to Munster supporters.
In that context, Scott Deasy, even though not long past his 22nd birthday, is something of a veteran with five starts to date in the jersey he fills today, but the 22 year old second rows, Ian Nagle and Dave Foley have amassed just seven caps between them yet great things are expected of them.
Darragh Hurley gets the nod over Wian du Preez with Stephen Archer on thre tight-head side and the experienced Damien Varley in between while there's another pair of young veterans in the back row, Billy Holland and Tommy O'Donnell with the wily Dolphin man James Coughlan to mind them and lock the scrum.
Treviso have an admirable home record. Their victims at the Satde Comunale include, among others, Leinster and Connacht, and their supporters here in Treviso admit that the scalp they covet most is Munster's.
Despite the absence of their leading lights, they fancy their chances in this one and Munster need a near flawless performance if they're to upset the expectations of the home crowd.
Munster: S Deasy; D Howlett capt, T Gleeson, L Mafi, S Zebo; P Warwick, D Williams; D Hurley, D Varley, S Archer; I Nagle, D Foley; B Holland, T O'Donnell, J Coughlan. Replacements: M Sherry, W du Preez, P Borlase, M O'Driscoll, D Ryan, C Sheridan, S Tuitupou, D Hurley.
Benetton Treviso: B Williams; L Nitoglia, E Galon, A Pratichetti, M Sepe; W De Waal, T Botes; M Rizzo, F Sbaraglini, L Cittadini; Antonio Pavanello capt, C van Zyl; B Vermaak, G Padro, M Fillipucci. Replacements: E Ceccato, M Muccignat, P Di Santo, I Fernandez Rouyet, Enrico Pavanello, T Benvenuti, B De Jager, A Marcato.
Referee: James Jones (WRU).
