Munster v Zebre - RaboDirect PRO12 match preview

Christian Gajan: Has made several changes to his Zebre team

Rob Penney: Has made nine changes to his Munster side

Munster coach Rob Penney has made nine changes to his starting XV for tonight's PRO12 clash with Zebre at Thomond Park.

JJ Hanrahan, 20, who made his Heineken Cup debut off the bench in Munster's win over Edinburgh last weekend, will make his first senior start.

One of those changes is positional, Donnacha Ryan moving from blindside flank to lock in place of Paul O'Connell, while five others, including Hanrahan, were involved off the bench last weekend.

Amongst the backs Felix Jones starts ahead of Denis Hurley at full-back while Duncan Williams is preferred to Conor Murray at scrum-half.

And in the pack, Stephen Archer is in ahead of BJ Botha and Paddy Butler now wears the number eight jersey with Peter O'Mahony who had it in the last match operating at blindside flank.

Zebre head coach Christian Gajan has made several changes to his run-on side. He has opted to rest three of the five internationals called up by Italy for the November internationals.

Lock Quintin Geldenhuys, flanker Mauro Bergamasco and wing Giovanbattista Venditti all sit out but the other two, hooker Davide Giazzon and fly-half Luciano Orquera, will be amongst the replacements.

There are competitive starts for Andrea Manici at hooker, and David Odiete on the right wing. Odiete came on as a replacement in last weekend's loss to Biarritz in the Heineken Cup.

Other changes in the backs from that French clash sees Alberto Chiesa starting at fly-half and Matteo Martinelli at scrum-half.

Munster: 15 Felix Jones, 14 Luke O'Dea, 13 Casey Laulala, 12 JJ Hanrahan, 11 Simon Zebo, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Duncan Williams, 8 Paddy Butler. 7 Peter O'Mahony, 6 Dave O'Callaghan, 5 Donncha Ryan, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 Stephen Archer, 2 Mike Sherry, 1 Dave Kilcoyne. Replacements: 16 Damien Varley, 17 Marcus Horan, 18 BJ Botha, 19 Billy Holland, 20 Tommy O'Donnell, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Johne Murphy, 23 Denis Hurley.

Zebre: 15 Ruggero Trevisan, 14 David Odiete, 13 Gonzalo Garcia (c), 12 Daniel Halangahu, 11 Matteo Pratichetti, 10 Alberto Chiesa, 9 Luca Martinelli, 8 Andries Van Schalkwyk, 7 Filippo Cristiano, 6 Filippo Ferrarini, 5 Josh Sole, 4 Emiliano Caffini, 3 Luca Redolfini, 2 Andrea Manici, 1 Salvatore Perugini. Replacements: 16 Davide Giazzon, 17 Matias Aguero, 18 David Ryan, 19 Filippo Cazzola, 20 Nicola Belardo, 21 Tito Tebaldi, 22 Luciano Orquera, 23 Leonardo Sarto.

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