Munster travel to Paris to kick off their Heineken Cup campaign with a clash against Racing Metro at the Stade de France.
Munster reached the quarter-finals of last year's competition, only to be beaten by Irish rivals Ulster at Thomond Park.
The big news is the return of veteran lock Paul O'Connell, who has been named in Munster's starting XV. O'Connell will be making his first appearance for the Irish province since early May. He will be joined in the second row by Billy Holland after Donncha O'Callaghan was ruled out with a hamstring injury.
Elsewhere in the pack, Dave Kilcoyne retains the number 1 jersey in the absence of Wian du Preez who sustained a knee injury against Leinster and Donnacha Ryan's experience was a probable factor in him getting the blind-side berth ahead of Dave O'Callaghan who is named on the bench.
The one unforced change in the backline sees Ian Keatley in at full-back instead of Denis Hurley, who is named on the bench.
Meanwhile, former Bath fly-half Olly Barkley makes his first start for Racing after coming off the bench in the Top 14 last week.
Mirco Bergamasco returns to the starting XV at outside centre while fellow Italy international Andrea Lo Cicero is added to the front-row.
The teams:
Racing Metro: 15 Benjamin Fall, 14 Julien Jane, 13 Mirco Bergamasco, 12 Fabrice Estebanez, 11 Julien Saubade, 10 Olly Barkley, 9 Maxime Machenaud, 8 Masinivanua Matadigo, 7 Jacques Cronje, 6 Antoine Battut, 5 Francois Van der merwe, 4 Karim Ghezal, 3 Luc Ducalcon, 2 Dimitri Szarzewski, 1 Andrea Lo Cicero .
Replacements: 16 Thomas Bianchin, 17 Eddy Ben Arous , 18 Benjamin Sa, 19 Fabrice Metz, 20 Bernard le Roux, Sebastien Descons, 21 Camille Gerondeau, 22 Sebastien Descons, 23 Virimi Vakatawa.
Munster: 15 Ian Keatley, 14 Doug Howlett (c), 13 Casey Laulala, 12 James Downey, 11 Simon Zebo, 10 Ronan O'Gara, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Peter O'Mahony. 7 Sean Dougall, 6 Donnacha Ryan, 5 Paul O'Connell, 4 Billy Holland, 3 BJ Botha, 2 Damien Varley, 1 Dave Kilcoyne.
Replacements: 16 Mick Sherry, 17 Marcus Horan, 18 Stephen Archer, 19 Dave O'Callaghan, 20 Paddy Butler, 21 Peter Stringer, 22 Danny Barnes, 23 Denis Hurley.
Date: Saturday, October 13
Venue: Stade de France, Paris
Kick-off: 14:35 (13.35 BST/12:35 GMT)
Referee: Greg Garner
Comments
damo says...
Downey is a monster Downey for Ireland
Posted 22:39 12th October 2012
schmidtyforpres says...
Good to see Munster playing two centres this week...
Posted 13:32 12th October 2012
damo says...
damo says...
We need a pro 7s team can PR run an article on how Ireland is the only country in the world almost without this and has tonns of young talent not being improved through htis means, also to confirm Darcy playing for Ireland is a joke on any form in the past 3 years, I can speak of 4 or 5 games his missed tackles or constant knock ons cost us or the fact his opponents manage 30+ tries in far less caps in their career - even Keith Wood scored more tries than him!!!!!!!!!!!!!
7s team first second Kidney needs to cop the F on to himself and pick players on form and talent - use some of his sports scientists to tell him Tiernan Ohalloran is far better then Duffy for Connaught why is Duffy in any Irish squad? Sorry Gavin and Gordon but its true, for us to win we pick the best players and so far Kidney hasn't done this!!!!!!!!
Come on Ireland we could win World Cups if we got our act together!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Connaught to prove a few shocks in this years HC !!!
Jimmy mcnicoll of Canterbury in ITM cup is worlds best 15 Ireland need to contract him now and he can play for Munster (desperately need a 15) this lad is class !!!!!!!!!!!
Posted 20:37 11th October 2012