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Ryan back for Munster as Sarries call in big guns

John Ryan
John Ryan

John Ryan returns to the Munster team in the only change to the side that defeated Saracens last week. 

The tighthead prop comes into the starting XV to make his 150th appearance for the province for the reverse fixture at Allianz Park on Saturday (3pm). 

Mike Haley, Andrew Conway and Keith Earls are named in the back three with Rory Scannell and Chris Farrell continuing their centre partnership.

Conor Murray and JJ Hanrahan are in the half-backs with James Cronin, Niall Scannell and Ryan packing down in the front row.

The second row pairing of Jean Kleyn and Billy Holland are unchanged along with the back row of Tadhg Beirne, captain Peter O'Mahony and CJ Stander.

Dan Goggin and Tommy O’Donnell have been drafted into the replacements with Goggin set to make his 50th Munster appearance.

Nick McCarthy is in line to make his first Champions Cup appearance for Munster.

Meanwhile, Mako and Billy Vunipola, Owen Farrell, George Kruis and Vincent Koch all line out for the hosts. 

Saracens: Max Malins; Sean Maitland, Alex Lozowski, Nick Tompkins, Elliot Daly; Owen Farrell, Richard Wigglesworth; Mako Vunipola, Jamie George, Vincent Koch; Joel Kpoku, George Kruis; Nick Isiekwe, Ben Earl, Billy Vunipola.

Replacements: Tom Woolstencroft, Richard Barrington, Josh Ibuanokpe, Calum Clark, Jackson Wray, Ben Spencer, Manu Vunipola, Duncan Taylor.

Munster: Mike Haley; Andrew Conway, Chris Farrell, Rory Scannell, Keith Earls; JJ Hanrahan, Conor Murray; James Cronin, Niall Scannell, John Ryan; Jean Kleyn, Billy Holland; Tadhg Beirne, Peter O’Mahony (capt), CJ Stander.

Replacements: Kevin O’Byrne, Liam O’Connor, Stephen Archer, Fineen Wycherley, Jack O’Donoghue, Nick McCarthy, Dan Goggin, Tommy O’Donnell.

Follow all the weekend's Champions Cup action with RTÉ Sport Online and the RTÉ News Now app and listen to live coverage of Leinster v Northampton on RTÉ Radio 1's Saturday Sport.

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