Heineken Cup Pool 6: Gloucester v Munster match preview
Gloucester have made six changes for their Heineken Cup Pool 6 clash with Munster at Kingsholm on Saturday.
Last Updated: 11/01/14 5:37pm
The Cherry and Whites will be fighting to keep their hopes of qualifying for the quarter-finals alive and have decided on a reshuffle following their home defeat to Saracens in the Aviva Premiership last time out.
Irish wing Shane Monahan will make his Heineken Cup debut, being joined in the back three by full-back Martyn Thomas, who replaces Robert Cook.
Jonny May moves in from the wing to outside centre, with Mike Tindall the man to make way for the 23-year-old. Dan Robson is given the nod at scrum-half.
In the pack, Yann Thomas and Darren Dawidiuk are selected at loosehead prop and hooker respectively, with Sila Puafisi the only player retaining his place in the front row following the Sarries defeat.
Gareth Evans will start at No 8 instead of Ben Morgan, who drops to the bench. Tonga international Sione Kalamafoni is also named among the replacements after several weeks out with injury.
Munster can ensure qualification for the quarter-finals with a big win and have also made six changes to the side which was beaten by Ulster last weekend.
Scrum-half Conor Murray is set to make his 50th appearance for Munster after recovering from a knee injury which has kept him sidelined for five weeks.
There are three other changes in the backs as wings Keith Earls and Johne Murphy and centre James Downey all return to the side.
There are two changes in the forwards as prop BJ Botha and lock Dave Foley are drafted into the pack, the latter making his first Heineken Cup appearance.
Gloucester: 15 M Thomas, 14 Sharples, 13 May, 12 Twelvetrees (c), 11 Monahan, 10 Burns, 9 Robson; 1 Y Thomas, 2 Dawiduik, 3 Puafisi, 4 Stooke, 5 Hudson, 6 Cox, 7 Kvesic, 8 Evans.
Replacements: 16 Edmonds, 17 Murphy, 18 Knight, 19 Hicks, 20 Kalafamoni, 21 Knoyle, 22 Cook, 23 Morgan.
Munster: 15 Jones, 14 Earls, 13 Laulala, 12 Downey, 11 Murphy, 10 Keatley, 9 Murray; 1 Kilcoyne, 2 Varley, 3 Botha, 4 Foley, 5 O'Connell, 6 O'Mahony (c), 7 O'Donnell, 8 Coughlan.
Replacements: 16 Casey, 17 Cronin, 18 Archer, 19 O'Callaghan, 20 Stander, 21 Williams, 22 Hanrahan, 23 Zebo.
Watch Gloucester v Munster on Sky Sports HD2 on Saturday from 18.00