Munster name much-changed side to face Ulster at Thomond Park

HOOKER Mike Sherry will captain Munster on his 100th appearance for the province in Saturday’s Guinness Pro14 final round regular season fixture with Ulster at Thomond Park, 5.35pm.

Sherry will be captaining the province for the first time since 2013 in Saturday’s interprovincial fixture. Prop James Cronin will also earn his 100th Munster cap in the game which will be live on TG4.

Twenty two-year-old Stephen Fitzgerald makes his second start of the season at full-back, with Ireland international Darren Sweetnam and Academy winger Calvin Nash on the flanks.

Young Player of the Year Sammy Arnold keeps his place in the side and is joined in midfield by Dan Goggin.

Scrum-half Duncan Williams returns to the starting XV having made a speedy recovery from injury with JJ Hanrahan at out-half.

Sherry and Cronin are joined in the front row by Brian Scott with Gerbrandt Grobler and Darren O’Shea in the engine room.

Dave O’Callaghan, Conor Oliver and Robin Copeland make up the back row.

Rhys Marshall, Jeremy Loughman and Stephen Archer provide the front row cover with Player of the Year nominee Jean Kleyn and Jack O’Donoghue completing the forward replacements.

James Hart, Bill Johnston and Academy centre Shane Daly, an Ireland 7s international, are the backline substitutes with Daly in line to make his senior debut for Munster.

MUNSTER: Stephen Fitzgerald; Calvin Nash, Sammy Arnold, Dan Goggin, Darren Sweetnam; JJ Hanrahan, Duncan Williams; James Cronin, Mike Sherry (Capt), Brian Scott; Gerbrandt Grobler, Darren O’Shea; Dave O’Callaghan, Conor Oliver, Robin Copeland. Replacements: Rhys Marshall, Jeremy Loughman, Stephen Archer, Jean Kleyn, Jack O’Donoghue, James Hart, Bill Johnston, Shane Daly.