AUSTRALIAN LOCK MARK Chisholm, Kiwi centre Francis Saili and 19-year-old wing Stephen Fitzgerald will make their Munster debuts in Sunday’s Guinness Pro12 clash with the Ospreys at Liberty Stadium (KO 2.30pm, TG4).
33-year-old Chisholm has been named in Munster’s second row alongside Dave Foley.
New Zealander Tyler Bleyendaal has been handed the number 10 shirt by head coach Anthony Foley after impressing as a replacement against Treviso last weekend, with Ian Keatley moving to the bench.
Dynamic centre Francis Saili makes his competitive debut in the centre after recovering from the concerning head/neck injury he sustained in the pre-season friendly against London Irish, partnering Rory Scannell in midfield.
Captain Felix Jones, Andrew Conway, academy wing Fitzgerald – an Ireland U20 international – and scrum-half Cathal Sheridan make up the rest of an exciting backline.
Up front, Mike Sherry continues his resurgence at hooker, forming the front row with fellow Ireland internationals Dave Kilcoyne and Stephen Archer. Dave O’Callaghan, Jack O’Donoghue and Robin Copeland make up an athletic back row.
Last week’s man of the match, CJ Stander, is among the replacements, as are Jordan Coghlan and David Johnston.
Munster (v Ospreys):
15. Felix Jones (captain)
14. Andrew Conway
13. Francis Saili
12. Rory Scannell
11. Stephen Fitzgerald
10. Tyler Bleyendaal
9. Cathal Sheridan
1. Dave Kilcoyne
2. Mike Sherry
3. Stephen Archer
4. Mark Chisholm
5. Dave Foley
6. Dave O’Callaghan
7. Jack O’Donoghue
8. Robin Copeland
Replacements:
16. Duncan Casey
17. James Cronin
18. BJ Botha
19. Jordan Coghlan
20. CJ Stander
21. Duncan Williams
22. Ian Keatley
23. David Johnston
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Meanwhile, Ulster coach Neil Doak has made two changes to his starting team for tomorrow’s visit to the Scarlets (KO 3pm, Sky Sports).
Andrew Trimble misses out with a hip flexor strain, meaning Craig Gilroy switches over to the right wing and the talented Rory Scholes comes in on the left.
Peter Browne, a summer signing from London Welsh, gets his first start in the second row, replacing Ireland international Dan Tuohy.
The rest of the XV is unchanged, with Peter Nelson continuing at out-half and Stuart McCloskey again forming the centre partnership with Luke Marshall. Ireland U20 cap David Busby could make his senior debut off the bench.
Ulster (v Scarlets):
15. Louis Ludik
14. Craig Gilroy
13. Luke Marshall
12. Stuart McCloskey
11. Rory Scholes
10. Peter Nelson
9. Paul Marshall
1. Andrew Warwick
2. Rob Herring (captain)
3. Wiehahn Herbst
4. Peter Browne
5. Franco Van der Merwe
6. Roger Wilson
7. Willie Faloon
8. Nick Williams
Replacements:
16. John Andrew
17. Callum Black
18. Ricky Lutton
19. Robbie Diack
20. Clive Ross
21. David Shanahan
22. Sam Arnold
23. David Busby
Have we ever had a better servant than Robbie Keane? Legend.
Eh, yes we have. Shay Given, Paul McGrath, Ronnie Whelan, Niall Quinn, should I keep going?
How are they better servants? On a par maybe. Surely not better though.
Ronnie Whelan had a poor international career as did many of his contemporaries at Liverpool despite been world class players.
Jack didn’t fancy Whelan, or anyone that was inclined to knock the ball around on the ground. Not that being in 2WC and EC squads is really that bad an international career, anyway.
Good trick Bruce does keeping every muscle in his face from moving
Fair play! Nice to see a bit of humour. Those awards can be dire shite the best of times.
Cringe.
Robbie has the appearances record for Ireland and the goal scoring record for Ireland. In fact he has obliterated the goal scoring one. Always disappoints me that some people won’t give him the credit he deserves.
I wouldn’t even mention Robbie Keane in the same breath as Paul Mc Grath, Kevin Moran, Ronnie Whelan or Liam Brady. Ok so he has the goal scoring record. I’d probably have it too if I had about 130 caps. I didn’t bother check how much he has. He’s good at scoring off the field though. His wife isn’t bad. I’ll probably get a pile of red thumbs for that but I don’t care
An award for Robbie Keane? What did he do?
8 goals in 9 games in 2013 maybe?…. 6 of which were in the qualifiers… out of 6 games played.
So we qualified ?