Munster take nothing for granted against Zebre

Even with crunch encounters against Guinness Pro12 leaders Leinster and Connacht looming, Munster head coach Anthony Foley will include all his Ireland starters against Italian strugglers Zebre at Thomond Park tonight (7pm).

Asked if he would mix and match his teams over the next few weeks with a view to giving their best against the two Irish provinces, Foley insisted: “No, we will focus on Zebre and make sure we try and get a result in Thomond Park on Friday. That’s how important this result is to us. There is pressure on everyone. Zebre are coming here to try and stay ahead of Treviso. The Irish teams are jostling for position. We all want to get into the top four, the top six”.

In making no fewer than nine changes from the side that disappointed so badly in Cardiff on Friday last, Foley has called up Donnacha Ryan, Tommy O’Donnell, Keith Earls and Simon Zebo and included Conor Murray and C J Stander among the replacements. Interestingly, Foley is fielding an all-Irish 23-strong squad.