Munster make three changes for visit of Stade Francais

Munster head coach Anthony Foley has made three changes to the fifteen that suffered defeat in Paris last weekend for Saturday's Champions Cup return encounter with Stade Francais at Thomond Park.

The squad has been boosted by the news that Tommy O’Donnell, Donnacha Ryan and Jack O’Donghue have all recovered from their respective knocks to take their place in the matchday 23.

One change in the front row sees Mario Sagario come in to make his first European start alongside Dave Kilcoyne and Mike Sherry while Dave Foley and Mark Chisholm continue in the second row.

Billy Holland starts at six this weekend with O'Donnell and captain CJ Stander again named at seven and eight respectively.

The final personnel change comes in the back three with Ronan O’Mahony starting on the left wing. Keith Earls remains on the opposite flank with Simon Zebo making the positional switch to full-back.

If sprung from the bench, Greencore Munster Academy prop Liam O’Connor will win his first senior cap for the province. The Irish Under-20s player has featured heavily for Munster A in this season’s British & Irish Cup, starting in three of the side’s four encounters.

Hooker Kevin O’Byrne is also included in the replacements and will make his European debut if introduced tomorrow.

On the injury front, Niall Scannell sustained a shoulder injury during Friday’s squad session and will be monitored by Munster medical staff across the coming days.

Munster: Simon Zebo; Keith Earls, Francis Saili, Rory Scannell, Ronan O'Mahony; Ian Keatley, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Mike Sherry, Mario Sagario; Dave Foley, Mark Chisholm; Billy Holland, Tommy O'Donnell, CJ Stander - capt.

Replacements: Kevin O'Byrne, Liam O'Connor, John Ryan, Donnacha Ryan, Robin Copeland, Jack O'Donoghue, Tomás O'Leary, Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino.