Munster Rugby make seven changes in personnel for trip to Connacht

THE Munster Rugby side has been named for the New Year’s Day URC interprovincial derby clash against Connacht at The Sportsground in Galway, 3pm, live on TG4 and Premier Sport.

There are seven personnel changes and one positional switch from the side that suffered a disappointing 9-3 defeat to Leinster at a sold-out Thomond Park on St Stephen's Day.

Hooker Eoghan Clarke makes his first competitive start for Munster.

Tadhg Beirne returns to captain the side with Fineen Wycherley returning from a shoulder injury as Conor Murray, Rory Scannell and Jeremy Loughman also slot into the starting XV.

There is a positional switch for Gavin Coombes as he moves into the back row.

Simon Zebo, Clavin Nash and Shane Daly start together in an unchanged back three.

Scannell and Antoine Frisch start together in midfield with Murray and Butler in the half-backs.

Loughman, Clarke and Oli Jager pack down in the front row with Wycherley and Beirne in the engine room.

Tom Ahern, John Hodnett and Coombes complete the side with Hodnett making his 50th Munster appearance.

Scott Buckley, Josh Wycherley and John Ryan provide the front row back-up with Jack O’Donoghue and Alex Kendellen completing the forward cover.

Paddy Patterson, Seán O’Brien and Academy winger Shay McCarthy are the backline replacements.

For opponents Connacht, Caolin Blade captains the side which shows six changes from the team that started in their narrow defeat away to Ulster in Belfast last time out.

MUNSTER RUGBY: Simon Zebo; Calvin Nash, Antoine Frisch, Rory Scannell, Shane Daly; Tony Butler, Conor Murray; Jeremy Loughman, Eoghan Clarke, Oli Jager; Fineen Wycherley, Tadhg Beirne (CAPT); Tom Ahern, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes. Replacements: Scott Buckley, Josh Wycherley, John Ryan, Jack O'Donoghue, Alex Kendellen, Paddy Patterson, Seán O'Brien, Shay McCarthy.

CONNACHT RUGBY: Mack Hansen, Byron Ralston, Cathal Forde, Bundee Aki, Shayne Bolton, JJ Hanrahan, Caolin Blade (capt), Peter Dooley, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham, Darragh Murray, Joe Joyce, Cian Prendergast, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Jarrad Butler. Replacements: Dylan Tierney-Martin, Denis Buckley, Jack Aungier, Niall Murray, Oisín Dowling, Michael McDonald, Jack Carty, Conor Oliver.