Rugby

Connacht and Munster name their teams for derby in Galway

John Muldoon returns to captain the home side while Munster make three changes

John Muldoon will captain Connacht for their Pro14 clash with Munster at the Sportsground in Galway on Friday night. Photo: James Crombie/Inpho

Thu Oct 26 2017 - 12:17

John Muldoon returns to captain Connacht for their Pro14 clash with Munster at the Sportsground on Friday night (kick off: 7.35pm, live on TG4).

Kieran Marmion, Ultan Dillane, Finlay Bealham, Tom McCartney, Tom Farrell, Jarrad Butler and Cian Kelleher also coming into the starting team for the home side.

Finlay Bealham, Tom McCartney and Denis Buckley make up the front row with Ultan Dillane and James Cannon in the second row. Muldoon’s return sees him wear the number 8 jersey with Eoin McKeon in at blindside and Jarrad Butler at openside.

Niyi Adeolokun is named in the matchday 23 for the first time this season as he returns from injury.

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Meanwhile, Munster have made three changes to the side that beat Racing 92 in the Champions Cup last week with John Ryan, Mark Flanagan and Andrew Conway cominginto the side.

Ryan joins Dave Kilcoyne and Rhys Marshall in the front row as Flanagan links up with his second row partner Billy Holland once again.

The international back row trio of captain Peter O’Mahony, Tommy O’Donnell and CJ Stander complete the pack.

The half-back pairing of Conor Murray and Ian Keatley continue as they were and the only change to the backline is a straight swop as Conway takes the place of Darren Sweetnam to start on the wing, joining Keith Earls and Simon Zebo in the back three.

CONNACHT: Tiernan O'Halloran; Darragh Leader, Bundee Aki, Tom Farrell, Cian Kelleher, Jack Carty, Kieran Marmion; Denis Buckley, Tom McCartney, Finlay Bealham; Ultan Dillane, James Cannon; Eoin McKeon, Jarrad Butler, John Muldoon (Capt).

Replacements: Dave Heffernan, Denis Coulson, Conor Carey, Quinn Roux, Eoghan Masterson, Caolin Blade, Craig Ronaldson, Niyi Adeolokun.

MUNSTER: Simon Zebo; Andrew Conway, Chris Farrell, Rory Scannell, Keith Earls, Ian Keatley, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Rhys Marshall, John Ryan; Mark Flanagan, Billy Holland; Peter O'Mahony Capt., Tommy O'Donnell, CJ Stander.

Replacements: Kevin O’Byrne, Liam O’Connor, Stephen Archer, Sean McCarthy, Jack O’Donoghue, Duncan Williams, JJ Hanrahan, Darren Sweetnam.

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