Rowntree makes seven Munster changes for New Year's Day clash with Connacht

Four of the changes are enforced due to injuries - hooker Diarmuid Barron, prop Dave Kilcoyne, lock Edwin Edogbo and centre Alex Nankivell.

Munster Head Coach Graham Rowntree.

Tadhg Beirne returns to captain Munster for the sell-out URC New Year’s Day derby at Connacht on Monday as academy fly-half Tony Butler is handed the reins in a first start for the province.

Graham Rowntree has made seven changes and one positional switch from the team which started last Tuesday’s St Stephen’s Day home loss to Leinster, with Butler and hooker Eoghan Clarke making their first competitive starts for Munster.