Former Leinster star and Samoa international Michael Ala'alatoa will make his first start for Munster this weekend as he's named in the starting line-up for their Investec Champions Cup clash against Gloucester at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday.
As well as a handful of changes Clayton McMillan has made three positional switches.
Academy back three player Ben O’Connor, Mike Haley, Alex Nankivell and Jack Crowley all come into the backline.
Michael Ala’alatoa will make his first Munster start in a new-look front row that also includes Michael Milne and Niall Scannell. Jean Kleyn and Jack O’Donoghue are the final two additions.
Ala'alatoa will make his first Munster start in a new-look front row that also includes Michael Milne and Niall Scannell. Jean Kleyn and Jack O'Donoghue are the final two additions.
The three positional changes see Shane Daly move to the wing as Dan Kelly goes to outside centre and captain Tadhg Beirne slots into the engine room.
Haley starts at full-back with Daly and O’Connor on either wing as Nankivell and Kelly partner up in midfield, while Craig Casey and Crowley renew their half-back partnership.
Milne, Scannell and Ala’alatoa pack down in the front row with Kleyn and Beirne in the engine room. Tom Ahern, O’Donoghue and Gavin Coombes complete the side.
Young Munster tighthead prop Conor Bartley is named among the replacements and is in line for his Champions Cup debut having joined the province last season after impressing in the AIL.
Munster: Mike Haley; Shane Daly, Dan Kelly, Alex Nankivell, Ben O’Connor; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Michael Milne, Niall Scannell, Michael Ala’alatoa; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne (C); Tom Ahern, Jack O’Donoghue, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Josh Wycherley, Conor Bartley, Edwin Edogbo, Ruadhán Quinn, Paddy Patterson, JJ Hanrahan, Tom Farrell.
Elsewhere Connacht show a much changed side for their EPCR Challenge Cup meeting with Georgian side Black Lion at Dexcom Stadium.
Paul Boyle is named captain and his return to the starting XV is one of 11 changes that started the game against Ospreys last weekend. Hooker Dave Heffernan, number 8 Sean Jansen, out-half Jack Carty and new signing Sam Gilbert have been retained, with Gilbert moving to full-back.
Carty is partnered at half-back by the returning Caolin Blade, while Cathal Forde and Hugh Gavin are named at centre. Wingers Shayne Bolton and Chay Mullins complete the back three.
In the pack there are starts for props Jordan Duggan and Sam Illo, while the Murray brothers Darragh and Niall complete the tight five. In the back row there's a return to action for Shamus Hurley-Langton, having missed the last few weeks due to injury.
On the bench there’s a potential debut for Academy prop Billy Bohan who is included in the matchday 23 for the first time. Fellow Academy prop Fiachna Barrett is also on the bench, as is the returning David Hawkshaw from injury.
Connacht: Sam Gilbert, Chay Mullins, Hugh Gavin, Cathal Forde, Shayne Bolton, Jack Carty, Caolin Blade, Jordan Duggan, Dave Heffernan, Sam Illo, Darragh Murray, Niall Murray, Paul Boyle, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Sean Jansen
Replacements: Dylan Tierney-Martin, Billy Bohan, Fiachna Barrett, Joe Joyce, Seán O'Brien, Matthew Devine, David Hawkshaw, Harry West
