Munster v Glasgow Warriors: Guinness PRO12 preview
Last Updated: 28/02/15 6:57pm
Munster have made seven changes for Saturday’s clash with Guinness PRO12 leaders Glasgow Warriors at Irish Independent Park.
The Irish province trail the Warriors by four points and Anthony Foley’s side will be out for revenge after their 21-18 reverse in Scotstoun before Christmas.
Foley has named a new front row of John Ryan, Eusebio Guinazu and BJ Botha, while Jack O’Donoghue and Sean Dougall come in to partner CJ Stander in the back row.
Northampton-bound JJ Hanrahan is selected at full-back after scoring a last-gasp try in last weekend’s draw at the Scarlets, with Ronan O’Mahony also coming into the back three.
Glasgow have lost just once of their last seven PRO12 fixtures but they are without fly-half Peter Horne for the trip to Cork.
Horne, who kicked 11 points in last weekend’s win over the Ospreys, has been called up to the Scotland team in place of suspended team-mate Finn Russell.
Conor Braid will wear the No 10 jersey in his first start for the club, while scrum-half Murray McConnell and flanker Will Bordill also make their debuts.
Adam Ashe comes into the back row after recovering from an injury sustained playing for Scotland in November, while the final change sees Alex Allan selected at loosehead.
"After last weekend's win over Ospreys we now face another of the in-form teams in the Guinness PRO12 and we've had some massive games with Munster over the last couple of seasons,” said Townsend.
"They are sitting second in the league, just four points behind us, so we're well aware of the importance of this game.”
Munster: 15 JJ Hanrahan, 14 Andrew Conway, 13 Keith Earls, 12 Denis Hurley (c), 11 Ronan O'Mahony, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Duncan Williams; 1 John Ryan, 2 Eusebio Guinazu, 3 BJ Botha, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 5 Billy Holland, 6 Jack O'Donoghue, 7 Sean Dougall, 8 CJ Stander.
Replacements: 16 Niall Scannell, 17 Dave Kilcoyne, 18 Stephen Archer, 19 Dave O'Callaghan, 20 Paddy Butler, 21 Neil Cronin, 22 Andrew Smith, 23 Ivan Dineen.
Glasgow Warriors: 15 Peter Murchie, 14 Niko Matawalu, 13 Richie Vernon, 12 Fraser Lyle, 11 DTH van der Merwe, 10 Connor Braid, 9 Murray McConnell; 1 Alex Allan, 2 Pat MacArthur, 3 Rossouw de Klerk, 4 James Eddie, 5 Al Kellock (c), 6 Adam Ashe, 7 Will Bordill, 8 Josh Strauss.
Replacements: 16 Dougie Hall, 17 Jerry Yanuyanutawa, 18 D'arcy Rae, 19 Alex Toolis, 20 Tommy Spinks, 21 Glenn Bryce, 22 Lee Jones, 23 Rory Hughes.
Watch Munster v Glasgow Warriors live on Sky Sports 3 on Saturday from 7pm