Rassie Erasmus makes 11 changes

Director of rugby Rassie Erasmus had Munster’s difficult series of matches in January in mind when making 11 changes for this evening’s (5.30pm) Guinness PRO12 clash with Connacht at the Sportsground.

Munster face Racing 92 of Paris twice and Glasgow Warriors in the Champions Cup over the first three weeks of 2017 and Erasmus has rested the bulk of his frontline squad with that daunting programme of matches in mind.

He believes the side he has chosen can still leave Galway tonight with the desired result — his decision to make such sweeping changes must have been helped by Connacht’s injury difficulties.