Big guys return as Munster and Connacht square up

Connacht v Munster, kick-off 2.30
Hastings Insurance MacHale Park
WITH both sides calling up their ‘big boys,’ sparks are sure to be flying in the unfamiliar surroundings of Mayo tomorrow around 2.30. With the Heineken Cup creeping up the following week-end, both sides will see this as a warm-up opportunity and a full-blooded battle is on the cards. It is great to see Craig Casey return and he will take his place with Jack Crowley at number nine. There is an exciting look in the backline with Nash, Farrell, Nankivell and the in-form Sean O’Brien named while at full-back Ban O’Connor has the pace and guile to cause concern for the Connacht defence.

Oli Jager returns at tight head and Tom Ahern at six will surley to cause the Westerners problems in the lineout and the scrums. URC points are vital in this game and with a a visit to France next week-end Munster, in particular, will be hoping to avoid defeat.

Connacht: Mack Hansen, Chay Mullins, Hugh Gavin, Bundee Aki, Finn Treacy, Josh Ioane, Caolin Blade, Jordan Duggan, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham, Joe Joyce, Darragh Murray, Cian Prendergast (c), Shamus Hurley-Langton, Sean Jansen
Replacements: Dylan Tierney-Martin, Denis Buckley, Jack Aungier, Josh Murphy, Paul Boyle, Matthew Devine, JJ Hanrahan, Santiago Cordero
Munster: Ben O’Connor; Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Seán O’Brien; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey, Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron, Oli Jager, Fineen Wycherley, Tadhg Beirne (c), Tom Ahern, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes
Replacements: Niall Scannell, Josh Wycherley, Stephen Archer, Jean Kleyn, Ruadhán Quinn, Conor Murray, Rory Scannell, Alex Kendellen.
Referee: Craig Evans (WRU, 58th league game)
AR 1: Andrew Cole (IRFU) AR 2: Padraic Reidy (IRFU)
TMO: Colin Stanley (IRFU)
Live on: TG4

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