Duffy to captain Connacht against Munster

Full-back Gavin Duffy will take the privilege of captaining Connacht against Munster at Thomond Park on St Stephen’s Day.

Centre Keith Matthews and flanker Johnny O’Connor return to the side after injury to lend a degree of experience.

Connacht will look to upset the Magner's champions after two sterling performances home-and-away against Worcester Warriors in the Challenge Cup.

CONNACHT (v Munster): Gavin Duffy (capt); Troy Nathan, Niva Ta’auso, Keith Matthews, Liam Bibo; Miah Nikora, Conor O’Loughlin; Brett Wilkinson, Adrian Flavin, Jamie Hagan; Michael Swift, Bernie Upton; Mike McComish, Johnny O’Connor, George Naoupu.

Replacements: Dermot Murphy, Ronan Loughney, Andrew Browne, Ray Ofisa, Ian Keatley, Kierran Campbell, Aidan Wynne.