Given that there have three players, Paul O'Connell, Peter O'Mahony and Conor Murray starting for Ireland with Tommy O'Donnell on the bench, Munster field a decent side tonight.
In his first start since injuring his foot in October Simon Zebo goes to fullback, which allows Rob Penney play Johne Murphy and Gerhard van den Heever on the wings. Casey Laulala and Denis Hurley provide size in the centre with several other names not needed by Joe Schmidt spread across the Munster pack. David Kilcoyne, Stephen Archer, Donncha O’Callaghan and captain James Coughlan all lineout.
In all Penney makes nine changes to the team that beat Edinburgh three weeks ago with South African van den Heever and backrow Barry O'Mahony starting their first games for Munster at the famous Limerick stadium.
Loosehead prop Sam Hobbs captains Cardiff, who like Munster are weakened through national call ups. Four players line out against Ireland and what a quartet they are – Leigh Halfpenny, Alex Cuthbert, Gethin Jenkins and Wales captain Sam Warburton.
Eight changes
There are eight changes to the Cardiff team that defeated Harlequins last Friday in an LV Cup clash.
“Munster are a quality outfit with quality players,” said Cardiff coach Phil Davies. “They have a few boys out on international duty but they have great strength and depth. Munster will be a huge challenge for us, but one we are looking forward too. As they are top of the table there will be a huge amount of pressure on them compared to the pressure on us.”
Cardiff haven’t won in Thomond Park in their six previous visits.
