Munster v Connacht: Teams
Munster will be without second row duo Paul O'Connell and Donncha O'Callaghan for the clash with Connacht at Thomond Park.
Last Updated: 24/12/09 4:19pm
Munster will be without second row duo Paul O'Connell and Donncha O'Callaghan for the clash with Connacht at Thomond Park.
Munster are also missing Denis Leamy after the Ireland flanker was ruled out for up to six months with a knee injury suffered against Perpignan.
Munster, though, have still named a strong 27-man squad for the clash - with the likes of Ronan O'Gara, Denis Fogarty, Denis Hurley, Jean de Villiers and Doug Howlett all included.
Connacht welcome back centre Keith Matthews and flanker Johnny O'Connor to their starting XV to face Munster.
Full-back Gavin Duffy will skipper the side, with hooker Adrian Flavin named as vice-captain
Munster: 15 Felix Jones, 14 Denis Hurley, 13 Tom Gleeson, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Ian Dowling, 10 Ronan O'Gara (c), 9 Peter Stringer, 8 Niall Ronan, 7 Billy Holland, 6 Alan Quinlan, 5 Donnacha Ryan, 4 Mick O'Driscoll, 3 Tony Buckley, 2 Damian Varley, 1 Julien Brugnaut.
Replacements: 16 Mike Sherry, 17 Wian du Preez, 18 James Coughlan, 19 Tommy O'Donnell, 20 Duncan Williams, 21 Paul Warwick, 22 Scott Deasy.
Connacht: 15 Gavin Duffy (capt), 14 Troy Nathan, 13 Niva Ta'auso, 12 Keith Matthews, 11 Liam Bibo, 10 Miah Nikora, 9 Conor O'Loughlin, 1 Brett Wilkinson, 2 Adrian Flavin, 3 Jamie Hagan, 4 Michael Swift, 5 Bernie Upton, 6 Mike McComish, 7 Johnny O'Connor, 8 George Naoupu.
Replacements: 16 Dermot Murphy, 17 Ronan Loughney, 18 Andrew Browne, 19 Ray Ofisa, 20 Ian Keatley, 21 Kierran Campbell, 22 Aidan Wynne.