Director of rugby Rassie Erasmus had Munster’s difficult series of matches in January in mind when making 11 changes for this evening’s (5.30pm) Guinness PRO12 clash with Connacht at the Sportsground.

Munster 12 Connacht 18: CONNACHT’S deserved victory over Munster in Saturday’s Guinness Pro 12 encounter at Thomond Park said as much about one side’s magnificent surge to the top of the league table as it did about the other’s demoralising failure to keep in step.