Peter O’Mahony returns to lead Munster into battle

Peter O’Mahony returns to captain Munster in tonight’s Guinness Pro12 clash with Glasgow Warriors on their 4G pitch at Scotstoun and is joined in the back-row by Tommy O’Donnell who makes his 100th appearance for the province.

Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus is resting a group of international players including Simon Zebo, Keith Earls, and CJ Stander but is still putting out a formidable looking 23-man squad for what promises to be a serious test of a side seeking a sixth successive victory. In contrast, Glasgow head coach Gregor Townsend welcomes back 10 Scottish internationals, an indication of the importance he places on this fixture.

Erasmus makes six changes from the side that strolled to a 46-3 win over Treviso last week. Niall Scannell starts at hooker, South African Jean Kleyn and Billy Holland team up in the second row, and O’Mahony returns to the back-row for Robin Copeland, who moves to the bench where he is joined by Donnacha Ryan and another South African, the powerfully built loose head prop Thomas du Toit.