Gaffney shuffles squad for Connacht tie

SQUAD rotation is the name of the game where the Munster team to face Connacht in the Celtic League at the Galway Sportsground on Monday (kick-off 2pm) is concerned.

Regular half-backs Ronan O’Gara and Peter Stringer are out of the equation and will be able to enjoy their Christmas dinner, a remark that also applies to centres Rob Henderson and Mike Mullins. Paul Burke and Eoin Reddan take over at half-back from O’Gara and Stringer, while Jason Holland, James Storey and Paul Devlin all come into a radically altered three-quarter line.

The forward pack has a more customary appearance to it, with Marcus Horan and John Hayes at prop, Donncha O’Callaghan and Paul O’Connell in the second-row and Denis Leamy and Anthony Foley in the back-row.