Ronan returns to Munster backrow

Rugby:International flanker Niall Ronan will make his return for Munster after almost two months out with a groin injury, replacing Sean Dougall at openside for the RaboDirect Pro12 clash against Scarlets at Musgrave Park on Sunday (5.15pm).

Munster coach Rob Penney has made six changes in total, one of those changes being positional, with Ian Keatley moving back to outhalf with Ronan O’Gara on international duty.

There is another change in the backrow, with Paddy Butler taking over the openside slot from Tommy O’Donnell, who has an ankle injury.

Elsewhere, Wian du Preez starts ahead of Marcus Horan at loosehead prop, Ian Nagle partners Billy Holland in the secondrow and James Downey is back at inside centre alongside Casey Laulala.

Munster:F Jones; D Howlett (captain), C Laulala, J Downey, L O’Dea; I Keatley, D Williams; W du Preez, M Sherry, S Archer, I Nagle, B Holland, Dave O’Callaghan, N Ronan, P Butler. Replacements: D Varley, M Horan, BJ Botha, D Foley, CJ Stander, P Stringer, JJ Hanrahan, D Hurley.