Munster fans will get a glimpse of what could be a very exciting back three combination at Thomond Park this weekend.
The Guinness PRO14 returns to our TV screens (eir Sport and TG4) on Friday and Saturday, with three of the four Irish provinces at home. Many Ireland internationals will be drip-fed into action over the coming weeks but Joey Carbery, Iain Henderson, Andrew Porter, Luke McGrath, Tommy O’Donnell, John Ryan, Ultan Dillane and John Cooney will all be in action.
All of the teams are in now so let’s take a look at some of the big calls made by Munster, Connacht and Ulster.
MUNSTER
Head coach Johann van Graan will hand first Munster starts to new signings Arno Botha (pictured below), Mike Haley and Neil Cronin, while Joey Carbery is set to make his debut off the bench.
JJ Hanrahan gets the first crack at Munster’s No.10 jersey, which should be keenly contested this season. Carbery – signed from Leinster at the end of last season – should get on for his first start for the southern province at some stage.
That selection call will have garnered some headlines (including here) but we are most interested in the back three shout by van Graan. The South African has opted for Haley at fullback with Darren Sweetnam and Shane Daly on the wings. Daly impressed us during the 2017 Ireland U20s’ Six Nations campaign – where he played in midfield – and most recently represented Ireland Sevens.
Elsewhere, it is good to see Dan Goggin back in the 13 jersey. He will be kept company by Rory Scannell. Botha is named in the Munster back row with Dave O’Callaghan and Tommy O’Donnell.
MUNSTER: Mike Haley; Darren Sweetnam, Dan Goggin, Rory Scannell, Shane Daly; JJ Hanrahan, Neil Cronin; Dave Kilcoyne, Mike Sherry, John Ryan; Jean Kleyn, Billy Holland (C); Dave O’Callaghan, Tommy O’Donnell, Arno Botha.
Replacements: Rhys Marshall, Brian Scott, Stephen Archer, Darren O’Shea, Gavin Coombes, James Hart, Joey Carbery, Sammy Arnold.
Kick-off: Saturday, 5:30 (eir Sport 1)
CONNACHT
Glasgow are coming to Galway and new Connacht coach Andy Friend is kicking off their season with a new mindfield combination of Kyle Godwin and Tom Farrell. The hosts’ back three is an exciting one, with Tiernan O’Halloran at full back and both Matt Healy and Cian Kelleher on the wings.
In the front row, Denis Buckley and Finlay Bealham start at loose-head and tight-head respectively with Mayo native Dave Heffernan given the nod at hooker, ahead of Shane Delahunt.
Captain Jarrad Butler and Eoin McKeon are joined by academy blindside Paul Boyle in the Connacht back row, with Ultan Dillane partnering James Cannon in the second row.
CONNACHT: Tiernan O’Halloran; Cian Kelleher, Kyle Godwin, Tom Farrell, Matt Healy; Jack Carty, Caolin Blade; Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham; Ultan Dillane, James Cannon; Paul Boyle, Jarrad Butler (captain), Eoin McKeon.
Replacements: Shane Delahunt, Peter McCabe, Conor Carey, Quinn Roux, Cillian Gallagher, James Mitchell, Craig Ronaldson, Niyi Adeolokun.
Kick-off: Saturday, 3pm (eir Sport 1 and TG4)
ULSTER
Dan McFarland is only at Ulster a wet week but he has been brought up to speed on affairs and is handing Ulster debuts to new signings Will Addison, Billy Burns and Henry Speight. John Cooney and Billy Burns will start their first game together in the 9/10 axis and Darren Cave is in midfield with Stuart McCloskey.
Iain Henderson is the big-name inclusion in the Ulster pack – for the game against Scarlets – while it is fantastic to see Marcell Coetzee back on an Ulster team-sheet again. Tom O’Toole, who just signed a senior contract, will make his sixth start at tight-head.
ULSTER: W Addison; C Gilroy, D Cave, S McCloskey, H Speight; B Burns, J Cooney; A Warwick, J Andrew, T O’Toole; A O’Connor (captain), I Henderson; M Coetzee, S Reidy, N Timoney.
Replacements: A McBurney, E O’Sullivan, R Kane, K Treadwell, C Henry, D Shanahan, A Curtis, A Kernohan.
Kick-off: Saturday, 5:30 (eir Sport 2)
