Donnacha Ryan makes first start of the season for Munster

Head Coach Anthony Foley has named his side to face Benetton Treviso and Donnacha Ryan is among the starting fifteen for the first time in 13 months.

This will be Ryan’s first start since returning from a foot injury last month and in fact the first time that he will have started a game under Foley’s tenure.

Since then he has featured twice from the bench in the PRO12 and completed his first 80 minutes when lining out for Munster 'A' against the Ulster Ravens last week.

There are three changes in total to the side that defeated Edinburgh at Murrayfield almost a fortnight ago as Stephen Archer starts in the front row while academy player Rory Scannell starts at inside centre.

Tommy O’Donnell is in line to win his 100th cap for the province as he starts in an impressive backrow alongside Peter O’Mahony and CJ Stander.

Munster: Felix Jones; Keith Earls, Andrew Smith, Rory Scannell, Simon Zebo; Ian Keatley, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Duncan Casey, Stephen Archer; Billy Holland, Donnacha Ryan; Peter O'Mahony, Tommy O'Donnell, CJ Stander.

Replacements: Eusebio Guinazu, John Ryan, BJ Botha, Donncha O’Callaghan, Dave O’Callaghan, Duncan Williams, JJ Hanrahan, Ronan O’Mahony.