Confident Munster well perpared for Connacht challenge

IT’S going to be a ‘must win’ fixture for Munster tomorrow evening when they host Connacht at headquarters. They have named a strong side with newcomers Thaakir Abrahams named on the wing, Tom Farrell, in the centre and Billy Burns all trying to impress.
Diarmuid Barron will captain the side at number two while the back row of Ruadhán Quinn, John Hodnett and Gavin Coombes are sure to create problems for the Westerners.
The memories of the home side’s last competitive game at Thomond Park to Glasgow Warriors will have been well and truly burried by now and this is a perfect opportunity for them to set off the season with an emphatic victory.
Speaking to the media this week Connacht Head Coach Pete Wilkins said: “We can’t wait to get the season going. It was a shorter and more intense pre-season than last year, with three productive games in the last few weeks, so now it’s about delivering what I believe we’re capable of. We’re very fortunate to have over 40 players available to us. This has helped drive standards in training and competition for places, and gives us a nice challenge reducing the group to a matchday 23. We know what to expect from Munster and Thomond Park, so it’s a brilliant opportunity for us to start the year on a positive note.”
Munster v Connach, Thomond Park, Limerick – KO 17.30 IRE & UK / 18.30 ITA & SA
Referee: Chris Busby (IRFU, 43rd league game)
AR 1: Andrew Cole (IRFU) AR 2: Dan Carson (IRFU)
TMO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)
Live on: RTÉ, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv
Munster: Mike Haley, Thaakir Abrahams, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Shane Daly, Billy Burns, Craig Casey, Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron (c), John Ryan, Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley, Ruadhán Quinn, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes
Replacements: Niall Scannell, Josh Wycherley, Oli Jager, Alex Kendellen, Jack O’Donoghue, Ethan Coughlan, Tony Butler, Seán O’Brien.
Connacht: Santiago Cordero, Mack Hansen, Piers O’Conor, Cathal Forde, Shayne Bolton, Josh Ioane, Ben Murphy, Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan, Jack Aungier, Joe Joyce, Darragh Murray, Josh Murphy, Conor Oliver, Cian Prendergast (c)
Replacements: Dylan Tierney-Martin, Peter Dooley, Sam Illo, Oisín Dowling, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Caolin Blade, David Hawkshaw, Sean Jansen

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