Howlett starts at full-back against Exiles

Coach Tony McGahan will start Doug Howlett at full-back against London Irish at a sold-out Musgrave Park, kick-off at 7.30pm on Friday night.

Those players who travelled with the squad to the States but were not involved, except for Doug Howlett and Alan Quinlan, are named on an extended.

"Yes, it would be our intention to give those who didn't get any game time against the Eagles a run at some stage of the game as we go about integrating them back into the playing side of things in preparation for the opening Magners League game."

" It's early stages of the season and we need to get guys on the park, integrate them as I said with the guys who have already had a run as much as we can. Try out combinations, see how they work and go from there.

"We are fortunate," he continued, "to have this game against a really quality Premiership team, a club who have genuine title aspirations and I think it will serve us well in the weeks ahead."

Munster's newest signing Justin Melck, the Western Province back-rower, has also been included for the first time.

MUNSTER (v London Irish): Doug Howlett; Anthony Horgan, Keith Earls, Lifeimi Mafi, Ian Dowling; Paul Warwick, Tomas O'Leary; Federico Pucciariello, Frank Sheahan, Tony Buckley; Mick O'Driscoll capt, Donnacha Ryan; Billy Holland, Niall Ronan, John O'Sullivan.

Replacements (from); Jerry Flannery, John Hayes, Marcus Horan, Donncha O'Callaghan, Paul O'Connell, David Wallace, Peter Stringer, Ronan O'Gara, Rua Tipoki, Barry Murphy, Justin Melck.