SIMON ZEBO WILL make his first start for Munster since October in tomorrow RaboDirect Pro12 meeting with Cardiff Blues at Thomond Park (7.15pm).

Zebo, who was left out of the Ireland squad for their opening Six Nations games by Joe Schmidt, is named at full-back in a strong team that show nine changes to the one that defeated Edinburgh 38-6 in the Heineken Cup on 19 January.

In the absence of Peter O’Mahony, James Coughlan captains the side.

Munster: Simon Zebo, Gerhard van den Heever, Casey Laulala, Denis Hurley, Johne Murphy; JJ Hanrahan, Duncan Williams; Dave Kilcoyne, Duncan Casey, Stephen Archer; Donncha O’Callaghan, Dave Foley; CJ Stander, Barry O’Mahony, James Coughlan (C).

Replacements: Ger Slattery, James Cronin, John Ryan, Billy Holland, Sean Dougall, Cathal Sheridan, Ian Keatley, Andrew Conway.

Connacht, meanwhile, take on Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun Stadium on Sunday (2pm).

Connacht: Robbie Henshaw, Fionn Carr, Eoin Griffin, Craig Ronaldson, Matt Healy; Jack Carty, Kieran Marmion; Denis Buckley, Jason Harris-Wright, Rodney Ah You; Mick Kearney, Andrew Browne; John Muldoon (C), Jake Heenan, George Naoupu.

Replacements: Dave Heffernan, Ronan Loughney, JP Cooney, Michael Swift, Aly Muldowney, Paul O’Donohoe, Dan Parks, Darragh Leader.

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