Best to start for Ulster against Munster who make five changes

Rory Best will start for Ulster against Munster in tomorrow's match at Thomond Park while Munster coach Anthony Foley has named a strong squad bolstered by a number of returning internationals.

Rory Best will start for Ulster against Munster in tomorrow's match at Thomond Park while Munster coach Anthony Foley has named a strong squad bolstered by a number of returning internationals.

The international hooker's inclusion is one of four changes to the Ulster side that beat Ospreys at Kingspan Stadium last Friday night.

In the only change to the Ulster back line, Ian Humphreys starts at outhalf in place of the injured Paddy Jackson.

Stuart Olding remains at fullback, with Louis Ludik on the right wing and Craig Gilroy on the left. Stuart McCloskey and Darren Cave continue their partnership in midfield with Paul Marshall starting at scrumhalf.

Callum Black and Wiehahn Herbst start either side of Best in the front row with Alan O'Connor coming into the second row alongside Franco van der Merwe.

In the back row, Nick Williams is named at Number 8 with Roger Wilson switching across the back row to blindside flanker. Sean Reidy continues at openside.

Robbie Diack, back from his time with Ireland in the Autumn series, is named on the bench, as is Michael Allen, who has recovered from the shoulder injury that he sustained playing for the Ravens.

Forwards Rob Herring, Andrew Warwick, Declan Fitzpatrick and Lewis Stevenson and backs Michael Heaney and Peter Nelson complete the match-day squad.

Munster make five changes to the side that earned a bonus point victory last weekend against Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade, with centre Pat Howard set to make his first start for the province.

One change in the front row see's BJ Botha promoted from the bench to start at tighthead alongside hooker Duncan Casey and loosehead John Ryan.

Donncha O'Callaghan will once again captain the side and partner Billy Holland in the second row.

In the back row, Robin Copeland moves to 6 with Paddy Butler switching to openside, while CJ Standercomes back into the starting line up at 8.

Duncan Williams is another returning to the starting 15 at scrum half alongside Ian Keatley in the half backs.

Having made his debut from the bench last weekend, centre Pat Howard will make his first start for Munster as he lines up outside Denis Hurley in the midfield.

In the back three, Gerhard van den Heever comes in on the right wing with Ronan O'Mahony on the opposite flank, while JJ Hanrahan makes his second consecutive start at full-back.

Three returning internationals - Dave Kilcoyne, Tommy O'Donnell and Felix Jones - are named on the bench. As Cathal Sheridan is to undergo further investigation on a forearm injury picked up in the Dragons game, in-form Garryowen scrum half Neil Cronin is included amongst the replacements.

The game, which kicks off at 7.45pm, will be live on TG4 and BBC 2 Northern Ireland.

Munster: JJ Hanrahan, Gerhard van den Heever, Pat Howard, Denis Hurley, Ronan O'Mahony; Ian Keatley, Duncan Williams; John Ryan, Duncan Casey, BJ Botha; Donncha O'Callaghan - capt, Billy Holland; Robin Copeland, Paddy Butler, CJ Stander

Replacements: Kevin O'Byrne, Dave Kilcoyne, Stephen Archer, Tommy O'Donnell, Sean Dougall, Neil Cronin, Andrew Smith, Felix Jones

Ulster: S Olding; L Ludik, D Cave, S McCloskey C Gilroy, I Humphreys, P Marshall; C Black, R Best (Capt), W Herbst, A O'Connor, F vd Merwe, R Wilson, S Reidy, N Williams

Replacements: R Herring, A Warwick, D Fitzpatrick, L Stevenson, R Diack, M Heaney, M Allen, P Nelson.

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CourtsRugbyHeathrowPlace: Thomond ParkPlace: Kingspan StadiumPlace: Rodney ParadePerson: BestPerson: Rory BestPerson: Anthony FoleyPerson: Ian HumphreysPerson: Paddy JacksonPerson: Stuart OldingPerson: Louis LudikPerson: Craig GilroyPerson: Stuart McCloskeyPerson: Darren CavePerson: Paul MarshallPerson: Callum BlackPerson: Wiehahn HerbstPerson: Alan O'ConnorPerson: Franco van der MerwePerson: Nick WilliamsPerson: Roger WilsonPerson: Sean ReidyPerson: Robbie DiackPerson: Michael AllenPerson: Rob HerringPerson: Andrew WarwickPerson: Declan FitzpatrickPerson: Lewis StevensonPerson: Michael HeaneyPerson: Peter NelsonPerson: Pat HowardPerson: Duncan CaseyPerson: John RyanPerson: Donncha O'CallaghanPerson: Billy HollandPerson: Robin CopelandPerson: Paddy ButlerPerson: CJ StandercomesPerson: Duncan WilliamsPerson: Ian KeatleyPerson: Denis HurleyPerson: Gerhard van den HeeverPerson: Ronan O'MahonyPerson: JJ HanrahanPerson: Dave KilcoynePerson: Tommy O'DonnellPerson: Felix JonesPerson: Cathal SheridanPerson: GarryowenPerson: Neil CroninPerson: BJ BothaPerson: CJ StanderPerson: Kevin O'ByrnePerson: Stephen ArcherPerson: Sean DougallPerson: Andrew SmithPerson: S OldingPerson: L LudikPerson: D CavePerson: S McCloskeyPerson: C GilroyPerson: I HumphreysPerson: P MarshallPerson: C BlackPerson: R BestPerson: W HerbstPerson: A O'ConnorPerson: R WilsonPerson: S ReidyPerson: N WilliamsPerson: R HerringPerson: A WarwickPerson: D FitzpatrickPerson: L StevensonPerson: R DiackPerson: M HeaneyPerson: M AllenPerson: P NelsonEvent: Autumn SeriesOrganisation: UlsterOrganisation: MunsterOrganisation: OspreysOrganisation: RavensOrganisation: Newport Gwent DragonsOrganisation: DragonsOrganisation: TG4Organisation: BBC 2 Northern Ireland
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