Perfect records on the line as Munster and Scarlets clash

Top of the table clash sees former Leinster flanker Jordan Coghlan make first start

Flanker Jordan Coghlan makes his first start for Munster in the Guinness Pro 12 clash away to the Scarlets. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho

Munster coach Anthony Foley has noted how Scarlets have managed to win all four opening games despite scoring just seven tries this season.

Both sides will put their winning start to the campaign on the line in Parc y Scarlets this evening in a tasty top of the table clash.

Munster have scored 11 tries and conceded four in their wins over Treviso, Ospreys, Glasgow and Cardiff, while Scarlets have scored seven and conceded as many in their four wins.

“They are not as free-flowing as they were last year. They seem to be a small bit more pragmatic in what they are doing, which makes them a bit more dangerous. They have a very good side and a lot of experience there again so it should be an interesting contest,” said Foley.

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10 points adrift

He has made eight changes to the side which twice came from 10 points adrift to beat Cardiff with Jordan Coghlan getting his first start.

The 22-year-old flanker who joined in the summer, was one of three ex-Leinster players to score against Cardiff with Andrew Conway and Ian Keatley also touching down in the 35-27 win.

Coghlan is one of the three changes in the pack, with Duncan Casey coming in at hooker and Robin Copeland starting in the secondrow alongside Mark Chisholm.

Promising

There are five changes in the backline, including a new half-back pairing of Cathal Sheridan and Tyler Bleyendaal.

Denis Hurley starts his first game this season at inside centre after recovering from injury, with the promising David Johnston coming in to partner him, and Irish U-20 Stephen Fitzgerald starts on the right wing.

SCARLETS: A Thomas; H Parkes, R King, G Owen, DTH van der Merwe; S Shingler, R Williams; R Evans, K Owens, S Lee; J Ball, T Price; L Rawlins, J Davies, J Barclay. Replacements: E Phillips, P John, P Edwards, G Earle, J Condy, G Davies, D Jones, T Williams.

MUNSTER: A Conway; S Fitzgerald, D Johnston, D Hurley, G van den Heever; T Bleyendaal, C Sheridan; D Kilcoyne, D Casey, BJ Botha; R Copeland, M Chisholm; D O'Callaghan, J Coghlan, CJ Stander. Replacements: N Scannell, J Cronin, J Ryan, D Foley, S Buckley, T O'Leary, I Keatley, R O'Mahony.

Referee: Gary Conway (IRFU).