Munster v Clermont: Teams
Clermont Auvergne have brought in thirteen new faces for their Heineken cup game against Munster at Thomond Park on Sunday.
Last Updated: 16/11/07 2:05pm
Clermont Auvergne have brought in thirteen new faces for their Heineken cup game against Munster at Thomond Park on Sunday.
Having destroyed the Scarlets 48-21 in their opening game Clermont have opted to demonstrate their strength in depth by making such wholesale changes. The only two surviving members from last week are Seremaïa Baï and Julien Malzieu, although both start in new positions.
Baï moves from inside centre to fly-half, replacing Brock James who drops out of the squad totally. As For Malzieu he switches from left wing to full-back forcing Anthony Floch out of the match day squad.
In a new look centre partnership Raphaël Chanal will partner Springbok veteran Marius Joubert, and Grant Esterhuizen slots in on the right wing.
The pack is all change and sees South African World Cup captain John Smit make his first start for Clermont. Smit came off the bench last weekend and has been handed the hookers birth for the trip to Ireland.
New Zealander Sam Broomhall will captain the side from number eight and is joined in the back row by Emmanuel Etien and Fabien Alexandre.
The Teams
Munster: 15 S Payne, 14 B Carney, 13 R Tipoki, 12 L Mafi, 11 I Dowling, 10 R O'Gara (c), 9 P Stringer; 1 M Horan, 2 J Flannery, 3 J Hayes, 4 D O'Callaghan, 5 M O'Driscoll, 6 A Quinlan, 7 D Wallace, 8 D Leamy
Replacements: 16 F Sheahan, 17 T Buckley, 18 A Foley, 19 J Paringati, 20 G Hurley, 21 P Warwick, 22 K Lewis
ASM Clermont Auvergne: 15 J Malzieu, 14 G Esterhuizen, 13 M Joubert, 12 R Chanal, 11 V Delasau, 10 S Bai, 9 A Pic; 1 G Shvelidze, 2 J Smit, 3 D Zirakashvili, 4 C Samson, 5 P Vigouroux, 6 F Alexandre, 7 E Etien, 8 S Broomhall (c)
Replacements: 16 M Lozupone, 17 T Domingo, 18 T Privat, 19 A Audebert, 20 A King, 21 P Garcia, 22 N Vonowale Nalaga
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
