No starting places for O'Leary or Hayes

Tomas O’Leary and John Hayes will have to settle for a place on the substitute’s bench for Munster’s opening RaboDirectPRO12 match against the Newport Gwent Dragons at Musgrave Park on Saturday night.

The squad announced today by Tony McGahan shows few changes from the side that edged out London Irish in the last weekend’s pre-season game.

Duncan Williams, who started against Irish falls out of the match day 23 with Peter Stringer starting at number 9.

The experienced scrum half will be eager to forge an effective half-back partnership with summer acquisition Ian Keatley who starts ahead of Declan Cusack and Scott Deasy.

The pack boasts a mixture of experience and young talent with Marcus Horan keeping company with Stephen Archer and Mike Sherry in the front row.

Mick O’Driscoll will operate alongside Billy Holland in the second row with Ian Nagle ruled out through a minor shoulder injury he picked up in the London Irish match.

Both Johne Murphy (hamstring) and James Coughlan (eye) have recovered from knocks to line out in the starting 15.

There’s no shortage of firepower in midfield with Mafi and Danny Barnes looking to bring their customary physicality to the fore.

Coughlan’s return sees Peter O’Mahony switch from number 8 to the blindside flank.

MUNSTER (v Newport Gwent Dragons): Johne Murphy; Doug Howlett, Danny Barnes, Lifeimi Mafi, Denis Hurley; Ian Keatley, Peter Stringer; Marcus Horan, Mike Sherry, Stephen Archer; Billy Holland, Mick O'Driscoll; Peter O'Mahony, Neil Ronan, James Coughlan.

Replacements: Damien Varley, Wian Du Preez, John Hayes, Dave Foley, Tommy O'Donnell, Tomas O'Leary, Scott Deasy, Simon Zebo.

MUNSTER (v Dragons): Murphy, Howlett, Barnes, Mafi, Hurley, Keatley, Stringer, Horan, Sherry, Archer, Holland, O’Driscoll, O’Mahony, Ronan, Coughlan.