Guinness PRO12: Connacht v Munster (today, 5.30pm, live on TG4)
MUNSTER will be keen to turn the tables on a depleted Connacht side when they face off at the Sportsground this evening.
Connacht did the double over Munster last season but, this time around, it is the southerners who sit top of the table and arrive eager for revenge.
Connacht’s injury list currently extends to no less than 25 players, including captain John Muldoon.
For the New Year’s Eve contest, coach Pat Lam has been, at least, able to name one returnee in the starting line-up as Peter Robb comes into the middle of the back row.
Tom McCartney is reintroduced as hooker and will captain Connacht in the absence of Muldoon.
Munster make 11 of their own changes from the team which defeated Leinster at Thomond Park last Monday, with Francis Saili set for his first start of the season, while Keith Earls returns to start on the right wing.
Rhys Marshall and Stephen Archer are introduced to the front row, joining retained loosehead prop James Cronin.
While Munster have the second best away record in the PRO12 so far this season, Connacht have won their last six games at the Sportsground in all competitions and have defeated their southern rivals on their last two
visits.
Despite the injury crisis in Connacht, coach Lam is looking on the bright side.
“We know it’s going to be very tough against Munster but, despite the setbacks, we have confidence in the players left standing,” he said.
“Being back at home in a sold-out Sportsground for the last game of 2016 also helps the situation we are in.”
Expect a close encounter.
