Preview: Munster v Ulster

Munster have rung the changes for their Magners League outing against Ulster at Thomond Park on New Year's Day.

Munster have rung the changes for their Magners League outing against Ulster at Thomond Park on New Year's Day.

Only Denis Hurley, Peter Stringer, Wian du Preez, Peter Borlase, Ian Nagle and Niall Ronan will start the match in the same numbered shirt as they did against Connacht.

Paul Warwick and Donnacha Ryan also started in Galway, although they have changed positions. Warwick moves from full-back to fly-half to replace Ronan O'Gara, while Ryan switches from the second row to the back row as Alan Quinlan is injured.

Denis Leamy will captain a squad that includes Jerry Flannery among the replacements.

Meanwhile, Ulster welcome back skipper Rory Best to their line-up for the interprovincial clash.

Best has been sidelined with the fractured cheekbone injury he sustained during the autumn internationals.

And he will captain a much-changed team with coach Brian McLaughlin opting to rotate his players ahead of a busy month of action.

Form: Munster's only defeat in their last half a dozen encounters in the Magners League was 6-20 at Dragons in round nine. The Munstermen have a perfect played 8, won 8 record at home in all competitions this season. Ulster's four game winning run in all competitions came to an end at home to Leinster on Monday. Ulster are the Magners League's second best away team having secured 16 league points from their five trips this season. The Ulstermen have not won any of their three encounters with fellow Irish provinces this campaign. Ulster have won four of their last six fixtures with Munster, and have an impressive won 3, lost 4 record in their last seven matches on Munster soil.

The teams:

Munster: 15 Scott Deasy, 14 Doug Howlett, 13 Keith Earls, 12 Sam Tuitupou, 11 Denis Hurley, 10 Paul Warwick, 9 Peter Stringer, 8 Denis Leamy (capt) 7 Niall Ronan, 6 Donnacha Ryan, 5 Mick O'Driscoll, 4 Ian Nagle, 3 Peter Borlase, 2 Damien Varley, 1 Wian du Preez,
Replacements: 16 Jerry Flannery, 17 Darragh Hurley, 18 Tony Buckley, 19 Billy Holland, 20 Tommy O'Donnell, 21 Tomas O'Leary, 22 Lifeimi Mafi, 23 Barry Murphy.

Ulster: 15 Jamie Smith, 14 Tommy Seymour, 13 Ian Whitten, 12 Luke Marshall, 11 Simon Danielli, 10 Paddy Wallace, 9 Paul Marshall, 8 Robbie Diack 7 Willie Faloon, 6 TJ Anderson, 5 Ryan Caldwell, 4 Tim Barker, 3 Declan Fitzpatrick, 2 Rory Best (capt), 1 Bryan Young,
Replacements: 16 Andi Kyriacou, 17 Tom Court, 18 BJ Botha, 19 Neil McComb, 20 Chris Henry, 21 Ian Porter, 22 Paddy Jackson, 23 David McIlwaine.

Date: Saturday, January 1
Venue: Thomond Park,
Kick-off: 19.30 GMT
Referee: Dudley Phillips