Munster make changes but Hurley confident of victory

DESPITE being short a host of internationals, Munster continue their rotation policy for tonight’s RaboDirect Pro12 away clash at Edinburgh.

Munster coach Tony McGahan has made eight changes in personnel and a number of positional switches from the side which beat Cardiff away last weekend.

Johne Murphy switches from full-back to wing to allow Doug Howlett a weekend off while James Coughlan is rested to recover from a head injury, prompting a move for Tommy O’Donnell from open to blind side in the back row.

In a side captained by Mick O’Driscoll, Scott Deasy starts at 15, Tom Gleeson comes in for Danny Barnes, Peter Stringer for Duncan Williams, Denis Fogarty for Mike Sherry, John Hayes for Stephen Archer, Dave Foley for Billy Holland, Niall Ronan for Peter O’Mahony, and Paddy Butler also starts.

However, winger Denis Hurley still believes there is enough quality in the side to make an impact in the tournament: “We will be going to Edinburgh looking for a win and I believe we are good enough to beat any of the teams in this league.

“I suppose winning away is a huge bonus; that was our problem in the Heineken Cup last season, so coming into this block of six games (three home and three away) we would want to be winning our home games first and picking up results on the road.”

Following defeat to Aironi, Edinburgh coach Michael Bradley has made three changes. Matt Scott taking over from Tom Brown in the backs, and Lewis Niven and Grant Gilchrist coming into the pack for Shaun Knight and Steven Turnbull.

Aironi head to the RDS to take on Leinster tomorrow (6pm), seeking a first away win in the competition.

EDINBURGH: J Thompson, L Jones, M Scott, J King, T Visser, G Hunter, G Laidlaw, K Traynor, S Lawrie, L Niven, G Gilchrist, S Cox, D Denton, R Grant, S McInally. Replacements: A Walker, R Hislop, S Knight, E Lozada, H Watson, C Leck, P Godman, T Brown.

MUNSTER: S Deasy, J Murphy, T Gleeson, L Mafi, D Hurley, I Keatley, P Stringer, W du Preez, D Fogarty, J Hayes, M O’Driscoll (capt), D Foley, T O’Donnell, P Butler, N Ronan. Replacements: M Sherry, J Ryan, S Archer, I Nagle, P O’Mahony, D Williams, D Barnes, S Zebo.