Earls to start for Munster

Ireland’s Keith Earls will start for Munster against London Irish in the Heineken Cup at Wembley on Saturday evening (5.45pm).

Coach Tony McGahan has made seven changes, two positional, as Johne Murphy slips to full-back, Denis Hurley coming in on the wing.

Scrum-half Peter Stringer, tight-head Tony Buckley and number eight James Coughlan all coming in to the side, captain Denis Leamy shifting to the BLINDside.

MUNSTER (v London Irish): J Murphy; D Howlett, K Earls, S Tuitupou, D Hurley; R O'Gara, P Stringer; W du Preez, D Varley, T Buckley, D O'Callaghan, D Ryan, D Leamy (capt), N Ronan J Coughlan.

Replacements: M Sherry, M Horan, J Hayes, M O'Driscoll, D Wallace, D Williams, P Warwick, S Deasy.

Meanwhile, Sailosi Tagicakibau will make his 100th appearance for London Irish in their Heineken Cup opening match against Munster at The Madejski Stadium.

Tagicakibau returns to the starting XV in place of academy winger Jonathan Joseph and is rewarded for his sensational match winning two try cameo as he came off the bench in Irish’s 40-24 win over Leeds last weekend.

The other team changes see Elvis Seveali’i and Faan Rautenbach return to the line up in place of Dan Bowden and Alex Corbisiero who move to the bench. Bullish Number 8 Chris Halu’ufia is named in the matchday squad for the first time this season.

LONDON IRISH (v Munster): 15. Delon Armitage; 14. Topsy Ojo; 13. Elvis Seveali’i; 12. Seilala Mapusua; 11; Sailosi Tagicakibau; 10. Ryan Lamb; 9. Paul Hodgson; 1. Clarke Dermody (capt); 2. James Buckland; 3. Faan Rautenbach; 4. Nick Kennedy; 5. Bob Casey; 6. Kieran Roche; 7. Declan Danaher; 8. George Stowers.

Replacements: 16. David Paice*; 17. Max Lahiff; 18. Alex Corbisiero; 19. Matt Garvey; 20. Chris Hala’ufia; 21. Jonathan Joseph; 22. Daniel Bowden; 23. Darren Allinson.