European Rugby Champions Cup Pool 1: Munster v Sale Sharks preview
Last Updated: 25/01/15 3:12pm
Keith Earls will make his first start of the season for Munster in Sunday’s European Rugby Champions Cup meeting with Sale Sharks at Thomond Park.
The Ireland international came off the bench in Munster’s previous two games against Zebre and Saracens, and is named at outside centre for their final European outing of the season.
Earls’ inclusion is one of three changes to the team that were demolished by Saracens last weekend.
Felix Jones failed a late fitness test and is replaced at full-back by Simon Zebo, with Ronan O’Mahony coming in on the wing for his first European start.
CJ Stander has also been ruled out through injury so Dave O’Callaghan comes in at blindside flanker and captain Peter O’Mahony switches to No 8.
Robin Copeland is named among the replacements after recovering from a shoulder injury.
Sale have rested a number of first teamers for the trip to Limerick, including Danny Cipriani, who was included in England’s Six Nations training squad earlier this week.
Chris Cusiter is also omitted so Nick MacLeod and Will Cliff form a new half-back partnership, with Andy Forsyth and Mark Jennings coming into the midfield.
Andrei Ostrikov and Josh Beaumont are selected in the second row, with Mark Easter and Vili Fihaki named alongside skipper David Seymour in the second row.
Munster: 15 Simon Zebo, 14 Andrew Conway, 13 Keith Earls, 12 Denis Hurley, 11 Ronan O'Mahony, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Duncan Williams; 1 James Cronin, 2 Duncan Casey, 3 BJ Botha, 4 Dave Foley, 5 Paul O'Connell, 6 Dave O'Callaghan, 7 Tommy O'Donnell, 8 Peter O'Mahony (c).
Replacements: 16 Eusebio Guinazu, 17 John Ryan, 18 Stephen Archer, 19 Billy Holland, 20 Robin Copeland, 21 Ivan Dineen, 22 JJ Hanrahan, 23 Pat Howard.
Sale Sharks: 15 Luke McLean, 14 Tom Brady, 13 Andy Forsyth, 12 Mark Jennings, 11 Tom Arscott, 10 Nick MacLeod, 9 Will Cliff; 1 Alberto de Marchi, 2 Tommy Taylor, 3 Ross Harrison, 4 Andrei Ostrikov, 5 Josh Beaumont, 6 Mark Easter, 7 David Seymour (c), 8 Vili Fihaki.
Replacements: 16 Cameron Neild, 17 James Flynn, 18 Ciaran Parker, 19 George Nott, 20 Andrew Hughes, 21 Nathan Fowles, 22 Joe Ford, 23 Michael Haley.
Watch Munster v Sale Sharks live on Sky Sports 1 on Sunday from 3pm
