Butler is named at number eight and hopes to lay down a marker for Munster coach Anthony Foley and Ireland’s Joe Schmidt.

James Coughlan’s departure from Munster to Pau next season will have been music to Butler’s ears, but the arrival of Robin Copeland from Cardiff Blues will provide another huge challenge for the youngster.

“He [Coughlan] has been an unbelievable ambassador for Munster rugby and everyone is disappointed to see him go and I personally would like to wish him well, we all do,” said Butler.

“I really hope it goes well for him and his family in France in the coming couple of years because I learned a huge amount from him.

“Now, Robin Copeland is coming in but in Munster there is always competition for places and that won’t change. With him coming in, it raises the bar and we can’t just focus in on him, because there are a lot of back rows there already and everyone will feel they have a fighting chance for selection.”

Butler wants to use this experience to impress Foley, but he is also hoping to go further than provincial rugby and sees this tour as a real chance to push for national recognition.

“It’s important to get the foot in the door and try to make a statement,” he said.

“These are three very important games in nine days so I think rotation of the squad is vital, it’s an opportunity to play in a different environment. You can see from last year’s emerging Ireland squad there were five players who went in the play Six Nations the following February so guys can look for other things and hopefully go on to represent their country at senior level.

“It’s early days but there is a great spirit in the squad, most guys have played alongside or against one another at U20 level or last year in Georgia, so I think everyone is looking forward to doing something special.

“The likes of these Russian, Uruguayan and Romanian players, they’re obviously big, strapping men and will look to take us on up front, take it up to the forwards and be direct, but we have to take the right attitude and play the game that we’re looking to play fast and, and I think we will do all right if we can manage that.”