Conor Murray to start for Munster against Gloucester

Damien Varley retains place and Simon Zebo returns to the squad for trip to Kingsholm

Conor Murray will return to the Munster starting XV for Saturday's Heineken Cup clash with Gloucester at Kingsholm, while Damien Varley has also been passed fit to start.

The hooker retains his place having recovered from the foot injury that saw him replaced in last weekend's defeat to Ulster at Ravenhill. Murray returns for his 50th cap after injuring his knee against Perpignan five weeks ago.

He is one of six changes from last week.

Keith Earls, Johne Murphy and James Downey also return to the side. Earls missed last week with a bruised shoulder but is named on the right wing, with Downey (groin) back to partner Casey Laulala in the centre.

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Murphy is selected on the left wing, while in the forwards, prop BJ Botha and lock Dave Foley come into the pack, with the latter braced for his first appearance in the competition after impressing from the bench against Ulster.

Ireland wing Simon Zebo is among the replacements - alongside Donncha O'Callaghan and JJ Hanrahan - back in the squad for the first time since cracking a bone in his foot against Edinburgh in October.

Gloucester Rugby: M Thomas; C Sharples, J May, B Twelvetrees (c), S Monahan; F Burns, D Robson; Y Thomas, D Dawiduik, S Puafisi, E Stooke, J Hudson, M Cox, M Kvesic, G Evans. Replacements: H Edmonds, D Murphy, S Knight, T Hicks, S K, T Knoyle, R Cook, B Morgan.

Munster: F Jones; K Earls, C Laulala, J Downey, J Murphy; I Keatley, C Murray; D Kilcoyne, D Varley, BJ Botha; D Foley, P O'Connell; P O'Mahony (Capt.), T O'Donnell, J Coughlan. Replacements: D Casey, J Cronin, S Archer, D O'Callaghan, CJ Stander, D Williams, JJ Hanrahan, S Zebo.