Mario Sagario steps into breach for Munster
Foley is also set to finalise his 41-man squad for the upcoming European campaign and may add an additional back row forward. Munster had been engaged in negotiations with at least two players to provide cover for injured skipper Peter O’Mahony, who faces an operation on a cruciate knee ligament injury.
Sagario, who trained on a trial basis with the squad this week, most recently started in all of Uruguay’s Pool A World Cup games and has made 51 appearances for his country. The 29-year-old tighthead formerly played with French Pro D2 sides RC Massy and Dax. It also seems likely that BJ Botha’s contract will be extended beyond the end of December, with Foley very anxious to hold onto Botha beyond that deadline. To that end, he has been in negotiations with the Irish Rugby Football Union to allow a deal to be brokered.
For now, Foley makes eight changes to the side that defeated Cardiff Blues. Jordan Coghlan will make his first competitive start for Munster and Robin Copeland is named for his first second row start, although he has played in that position before.
The only change in the front row comes at hooker with Duncan Casey joining Dave Kilcoyne and Botha.
A further five changes have been made in the backs. Cathal Sheridan and Tyler Bleyendaal come in at half-back while Denis Hurley makes his first start of the season in forming a new centre partnership alongside the academy’s David Johnston. The final change comes with academy winger Stephen Fitzgerald on the right wing.
Scarlets’ four returning Welsh internationals have been included in the home side; Ken Owens, Samson Lee and Jake Ball starting and Gareth Davies named on the replacements bench.
The Welsh side have not been defeated since Edinburgh visited Parc y Scarlets in March, with their eight successive victories to date their best ever winning run in the competition.
Head coach Wayne Pivac is looking forward to overturning the league leaders, saying: “If we look back at our game against them here last season we played really well for 74 minutes but ended up drawing that game. We’d like to go one better but it’s going to be a big ask. They’re playing really well at the moment and we’re yet to put together an 80-minute performance. They’ll bring an attacking ability and they’ll ask a lot of questions of our defence. This is definitely our biggest test yet and it should be a juicy occasion.”
This week, Foley was just as appreciative of the Llanelli- based team. “They have an enviable home record, they’re a quality side that are playing extremely well and their four wins to date is something we must come to terms with.”
A Thomas; H Parkes, R King, G Owen, DTH van der Merwe; S Shingler, R Williams; R Evans, K Owens, S Lee; J Ball, T Price; L Rawlins, J Davies, J Barclay.
E Phillips, P John, P Edwards, G Earle, J Condy, G Davies, D Jones, T Williams
A Conway; S Fitzgerald, D Johnston, D Hurley, G van den Heever; T Bleyendaal, C Sheridan; D Kilcoyne, D Casey, BJ Botha; R Copeland, M Chisholm; D O’Callaghan, J Coghlan, CJ Stander (capt).
N Scannell, J Cronin, J Ryan, D Foley, S Buckley, T O’Leary, I Keatley, R O’Mahony.
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