MUNSTER HAVE RECALLED captain Peter O’Mahony to their starting team at blindside flanker for Saturday’s Guinness Pro12 clash with Zebre at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi [KO 2pm Irish time, not televised].

O'Mahony is back to lead Munster to Italy. Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO

The 27-year-old was man of the match in Ireland’s Six Nations win over England last weekend, but joins fellow Ireland internationals John Ryan and Niall Scannell in returning straight into Munster’s XV ahead of the trip to Italy.

Jack O’Donoghue has been brought into the Munster side at number eight, meaning Dave O’Callaghan shifts into the second row as injuries affect the province in that area.

The fifth and final personnel change made by Munster director of rugby Rassie Erasmus is to restore Tyler Bleyendaal to the 10 shirt.

Andrew Conway is at fullback after making his Ireland debut last weekend, while James Cronin has recovered from a finger injury to be included on the bench alongside David Johnston – the Clonmel man making his first Munster matchday squad of the season.

Munster currently sit third in the Pro12, one point behind the Ospreys, while Zebre are bottom of the championship with just a single win in 16 games so far.

Munster (v Zebre):

15. Andrew Conway
14. Darren Sweetnam
13. Jaco Taute
12. Rory Scannell
11. Ronan O’Mahony
10. Tyler Bleyendaal
9. Duncan Williams

1. Dave Kilcoyne
2. Niall Scannell
3. John Ryan
4. Dave O’Callaghan
5. Billy Holland
6. Peter O’Mahony (captain)
7. Tommy O’Donnell
8. Jack O’Donoghue

Replacements:

16. Rhys Marshall
17. James Cronin
18. Stephen Archer
19. Darren O’Shea
20. Conor Oliver
21. Angus Lloyd
22. David Johnston
23. Dan Goggin

Zebre:

15. Dion Berryman
14. Kayle van Zyle
13. Tommaso Boni
12. Tommaso Castello
11. Lloyd Greeff
10. Serafin Bordoli
9. Marcello Violi

1. Bruno Postiglioni
2. Oliviero Fabiani
3. Bartholomeus Le Roux
4. Gideon Koegelenberg
5. Valerio Bernabò (captain)
6. Maxime Mbanda
7. Johan Meyer
8. Derick Minnie

Replacements:

16. Sydney Tobias
17. Andrea De Marchi
18. Guillermo Roan
19. Joshua Furno
20. Federico Ruzza
21. Carlo Engelbrecht
22. Matteo Pratichetti
23. Guglielmo Palazzani

Referee: Sean Gallagher [IRFU].

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