Munster's outgoing coach Alan Gaffney has made five changes for tomorrow's Celtic League trip to Cardiff.
With an Ireland A fixture next week, the game takes on added significance for those on the international fringes. In this regard, Shaun Payne and Rob Henderson's inclusions in the centre carries extra resonance, as does David Wallace's move back to openside flanker in the absence of the injured Denis Leamy. Mike Prendergast also gets an opportunity to impress at scrumhalf.
As expected, the frontline internationals are absent but Marcus Horan and Frankie Sheahan are in from the start.
"It's simply a matter of giving players some game time," Gaffney explained. "Shaun (Payne) was a late cry-off last time and Rob (Henderson) hasn't started since the Harlequins game in January. Eoin Reddan got a full 80 against Glasgow so now it's Mike Prendergast's turn.
"Similarly in the forwards. We're without Donncha O'Callaghan (playing in IRB Rugby Aid match at Twickenham), Denis Leamy and David Pusey (injury). So we moved things around a bit and young Stephen Keogh gets a run which means Alan (Quinlan) is on the bench but he's (Quinlan) played the last five matches so I believe a rest will freshen him up."
Quinlan should be a certainty for the A squad.
O'Callaghan's place in the secondrow goes to Tom Bowman.
Meanwhile, Lawrence Dallaglio replaces Brian O'Driscoll as captain of the Northern Hemisphere XV at Twickenham. O'Driscoll, who will be pitch side as part of the official Northern squad, had been a doubt since damaging his elbow against England.
"I have spoken to Brian and he is bitterly disappointed not to be playing," said Northern coach Clive Woodward. "However, he has come over for the game to show his support for the guys.
"I am delighted that Lawrence is involved as captain. He is a proven, outstanding player and he is relishing the prospect of stepping up to the mark and taking on the role of captaincy for this unique match."
Although proceeds go towards the United Nations Tsunami Fund, the event's timing has come in for criticism as it clashes with competitions on either side of the equator, including the Super 12 and Celtic League.
More pertinently, it also comes during a gap week from the Six Nations when national coaches are loath to release key players.
This precipitated several high-profile withdrawals including Fabien Pelous, Gordon Bulloch and Ireland's Paul O'Connell. With his crying off an opportunity presented itself for his Munster secondrow partner O'Callaghan to impress Woodward, also the Lions coach. Ditto David Humphreys, who incidentally, was named vice-captain.
The match represents an opportunity for Woodward to view prospective British and Irish Lions tourists who are not playing in the Six Nations with the Irish duo, Dallaglio, Ben Cohen and Simon Taylor being the obvious candidates here.
O'Driscoll's withdrawal sees Leicester's Ollie Smith partner Damien Traille at centre, while Newcastle teenager Mathew Tait is named amongst the replacements.
The Southern Hemisphere XV has a more world-class sheen to it with George Gregan leading a side containing New Zealand captain Tana Umaga, Andrew Mehrtens and world player of the year Schalk Burger. Only Fijian wing sensation Rupeni Caucaunibuca withdrew due to commitments to French club Agen.
MUNSTER: C Cullen; J Kelly, S Payne, R Henderson, A Horgan; P Burke, M Prendergast; M Horan, F Sheahan, G McIlwham; T Bowman, T Hogan; J Williams, D Wallace, S Keogh. Replacements: F Roche, J Flannery, T Hayes, A Quinlan, E Reddan, J Holland, P Devlin.
SOUTH XV: C Latham (Reds, Australia); B Lima (Samoa), J Fourie (Cats, South Africa), T Umaga (Hurricanes, New Zealand), S Bobo (Parma, Fiji); A Mehrtens (Crusaders, New Zealand), G Gregan (capt, Brumbies, Australia); C Hoeft (Highlanders, New Zealand), John Smit (Sharks, South Africa), K Visagie (Saracens, South Africa); S Maling (NEC Harlequins, New Zealand), V Matfield (Bulls, South Africa); S Burger (Stormers, South Africa), P Waugh (Waratahs, Australia), T Kefu (Kubota Spears, Australia). Replacements: E Taukafa (Leicester, Tonga), E Guinazu (Mendoza, Argentina), S Sititi (Newcastle Falcons, Samoa), O Palepoi (Rotherham, Samoa), M Raulini (Saracens, Fiji), T Delport (Worcester, SA), AN Other.
NORTH XV: C Paterson (Edinburgh, Scotland); Mirco Bergamasco (Stade Français, Italy), O Smith (Leicester, England), D Traille (Biarritz Olympique, France), B Cohen (Northampton, England); D Humphreys (Ulster, Ireland), G Cooper (Newport Gwent, Wales); J Yapp (Cardiff, Wales), A Titterrell (Sale Sharks, England), C Horsman (Worcester); M Bortolami (RC Narbonne, Italy), D O'Callaghan (Munster, Ireland); L Dallaglio (capt, Wasps, England), P Sanderson (Worcester, England), S Taylor (Edinburgh, Scotland). Replacements: R Ibanez (Saracens, France), C Soulette (ASM Clermont Auvergne, France), O Brouzet (Stade Français, France), J Thomas (Ospreys, Wales), M Phillips (Llanelli, Wales), C Sweeney (Newport Gwent, Wales), M Tait (Newcastle Falcons, England).
