Squad rotation is name of the game for van Graan

16 senior Munster players are without a game since October, which will amount to a 10-week lay-off by next Sunday's URC date with Leinster in Thomond Park

Simon Zebo hasn't featured for Munster since last October.

Johann van Graan has prepared Munster supporters for a holiday season of squad rotation as he continues the difficult task of reintegrating his senior players after a lengthy period on the sidelines.

Munster scraped past Castres with a 19-13 win at Thomond Park on Saturday to continue their unbeaten start to the Heineken Champions Cup pool phase and if it was a patchy performance with plenty of mistakes and missed opportunities, it was telling that the head coach had given game time to 12 senior professionals in his matchday 23 for their first appearances since mid-October.