One change for Connacht

Following Connacht's narrow defeat away to Gloucester in the Heineken Cup last weekend, Head Coach Eric Elwood has chosen not to tinker with the side too much for the trip to Thomond Park to face Munster in the RaboDirect PRO12 on St. Stephen’s Day (7.45pm), making just one enforced change.

Fetu'u Vainikolo replaces Mark McCrea on the wing. McCrea was forced to retire from last weekend's clash with a strained hamstring giving the Tongan International winger a berth in the starting XV.

Frank Murphy continues his half back partnership with Niall O’Connor while the centre pairing of Dave McSharry and Eoin Griffin is also retained despite an impressive showing off the bench last weekend from Kyle Tonetti, who is name among the replacements.

Connacht's hugely experienced pack will scrum down with no fewer than 747 caps for the Province between them while the dynamic young backline will be marshalled by captain Gavin Duffy from fullback.

Connacht (v Munster): G Duffy; F Vainikolo, E Griffin, D McSharry, T O’Halloran; N O’Connor, F Murphy; B Wilkinson, E Reynecke, R Loughney, G Naoupu, M McCarthy, D Gannon, J O’Connor, J Muldoon.

Replacements: A Flavin, D Rogers, R Ah You, M Kearney, E McKeon, P O’Donohoe, M Jarvis, K Tonetti.