Head Coach Pat Lam has named his 23 for the sold out New Year’s Day clash against Munster at the Sportsground and makes seven changes to the starting XV selected to line out against Ulster last Friday

.The international trio of Robbie Henshaw, Kieran Marmion and Rodney Ah You all return for the opening game of 2015. All Black centurion Mils Muliaina starts at full back while Galway man Darragh Leader moves to the right wing with Danie Poolman on the left
.From last week, Bundee Aki shifts to inside centre to partner Henshaw for the second time this season while 24-year-old Craig Ronaldson is handed the reigns at outhalf.

Denis Buckley is named at loosehead prop for his 15th appearance of the season and starts in a front row with hooker Tom McCartney and Ah You at tighthead.

Quinn Roux returns form the ankle injury that forced him to withdraw late in Belfast last week, and partners try scorer Aly Muldowney in the second row
.Eoin McKeon has recovered from injury to take his place at Number 8 in a back row with flankers John Muldoon and Willie Faloon
.Commenting on the team selection and the upcoming game, Head Coach Pat Lam said:
“I’ve always said that it is so important that we are comfortable adapting our style of play to suit the different conditions and opposition over a long season. Tomorrow we face a very direct and physical Munster side with an excellent kicking game. They are undefeated in the interpro games, going back-to-back against Leinster and beating Ulster. Axel is doing a terrific job in in his first season as head coach and in their performances I have seen the uncompromising, tough and direct style that he was renowned for when I played against him.“The changes to our own team reflect the game plan we have devised to try and combat the big challenge ahead

.“Having the physicality of Craig (Ronaldson), Robbie (Henshaw) and Bundee (Aki) in the front line will be key to our defence tomorrow. And the selection of the back three of Mils (Muliaina), Darragh (Leader) and Danie (Poolman) is directly linked to the quality of Munster’s aerial threat and the tough weather conditions expected

. “It’s been six years since we’ve beaten Munster and only once in the last 41 meetings. We know how big a test this is. It’s going to be a very special atmosphere at a sold out Sportsground and like our supporters, we are all massively excited for this game

.”Connacht team to face Munster
15. Mils Muliaina
14. Darragh Leader
13. Robbie Henshaw
12. Bundee Aki
11. Danie Poolman
10. Craig Ronaldson
9. Kieran Marmion

1. Denis Buckley
2. Tom McCartney
3. Rodney Ah You
4. Quinn Roux
5. Aly Muldowney
6. John Muldoon (captain)
7. Willie Faloon
8. Eoin McKeon

Replacements
:16. Dave Heffernan
17. JP Cooney
18. Finlay Bealham
19. Ultan Dillane
20. George Naoupu
21.  John Cooney
22. Miah Nikora
23. Dave McSharry

Unavailable/Injured: Jason Harris-Wright, Sean Henry, Ronan Loughney, Nathan White, Michael Swift, Mick Kearney, Jake Heenan, Ian Porter, Tiernan O’Halloran.

Relief about Murray/Foley out... Some said I was pessimistic, I Was right for Leinster, but I'm Confindent for this one! Connacht Abu!!

usually Munster send a weakened team with strength on the bench, it's the reverse this time round

Not the strongest bench : if Connacht keeps it close after an hour, it's winnable

Mun XV:
Zebo,
Conway,
Howard,
JJ,
ROM,
Keatley,
Williams;

J Ryan,
Casey,
BJ,
B Holland,
POC,
POM Capt.,
TOD,
CJ.

Replacements: O’Byrne, Guinazu, Archer, Don O’Callaghan, Dave O’Callaghan, Cronin, R Scannell, Dineen. #ConVMun #SUAF

connachta wrote: What I fear the most is the Leinster scenario : with O'Mahony, O'Donnell, Stander and O'Connell playing the part of Heaslip Jennings Laughlin and Kane, and winnig the match on their own....

I'd agree I think that regardless of who starts in the back row for Munster its the area where they traditionally do a number on us. Even Paddy Butler mightn't start but he was man of the match in this game last year. Dougall is a useful player also. If our back row don't do the business we are in trouble from the off.

Its great to see the match is sold out, no doubt there'll be a good travelling support from Munster but its still a good crowd for us to get when you consider the likes of Toulouse last year wasn't sold out. Really with such a big crowd its essential we get at least a performance and hopefully we can be in the shake up going into the last 10-15 minutes (unlike last year's pathetic showing).

By the sounds of it Munster are going with a full side which might be as well off given our record against weakened Munster selections , if we get a win I'd be ecstatic but its important to get at least a bonus point and then try and carry that into the Edinburgh game at home which is a game we absolutely have to win.

Connacht v Munster – Galway Sportsgrounds Guinness Pro 12 Round 12
Thursday 1st January 2014 Kick Off 17:00
On TV: TG4

After enjoying a 15 point victory over Leinster on St. Stephen's Day Munster will hope to continue their pursuit of a Top 2 position in the league on Thursday. Connacht will hope to achieve a rare victory over Munster and maintain their unbeaten home record this season.

Other Match Stats
Connacht have beaten Munster once in the history of the league.
Munster have won the last 11 meeting between the two sides.
Munster have scored an average of 24 points and conceded an average of 15 points per game in the league this season
Munster have won all three of their interpro games this season

Munster Stats
Website: www.munsterrugby.ie/
Founded: 1879
Ground: Thomond Park / Musgrave Park
Capacity: 25,600 / 9,251
Captain: Peter O'Mahony
Coach: Anthony Foley

Guinness Pro 12 League Position 2014/15: 3rd P:11 Pts: 37
Rabo Direct Pro12 League Position 2013/14: 3rd P:22 Pts:74 (Lost Semi-final 16-15 v Glasgow)
Heineken Cup 2013/14: 1st in Pool 6 Points: 23 (Lost Semi-final 24-16 v Toulon)

European Rugby Champions Cup Pool 1
Clermont 14
Saracens 13
Munster 10
Sale 2

Previous Fixtures
Munster 28-13 Leinster (Pro 12 Round 11)
Glasgow 21-18 Munster (Pro 12 Round 10)
Clermont 26-19 Munster (European Cup Round 4)
Munster 9-16 Clermont (European Cup Round 3)
Munster 21-20 Ulster (Pro 12 Round 9)

Next League Fixture:
Saturday 10th January 2015 Zebre v Munster @ Stadio XXV Aprile @ 16.00 (local time)

Munster Ins/Outs 2014/15
Players In
Eusebio Guiñazú from Bath
Martin Kelly from Dublin University
Shane Buckley promoted from Academy
Robin Copeland from Cardiff Blues
Jonathan Holland promoted from Academy
Tyler Bleyendaal from Crusaders
Andrew Smith from Brumbies

Players Out
James Coughlan to France Pau
Ian Nagle to Club To Be Confirmed
Niall Ronan Retiring due to injury
James Downey to Glasgow Warriors
Casey Laulala to Racing Métro
Quentin MacDonald to Chiefs

Previous Meetings

Saturday 19th April 2014 Rabo Direct Pro 12
Connacht 23-32 Munster
www.pro12rugby.com/matchcentre/14800.php

Friday 27th December 2013 Rabo Direct Pro 12
Munster 22-16 Connacht
www.pro12rugby.com/matchcentre/13696.php

we got to play the conditions also as it looks like there's going to be a strong breeze blowing towards the college road end, unfortunately Keatley will be well aware of the kicking required. If we stop their forwards driving off the side of the rucks then we have a good chance, O'Donnel Stander and Mahoney have to taken down early.

connachta wrote: For us: the front row has to take the edge earlier that it did in Dublin, and Aki/Henshaw must click togethter immediately...

Overall we need as a team to start much quicker than we did in Dublin, it was better last week, much better.

The latter will require Carty and Marmion to really vary their game, Munster defence will be strong so we need to vary the attack bringing Dani in between Jack & Robbie a couple of times. The more variations that the Munster defence has to contemplate the more we can see Robbie & Bundee breaking the gain line. Really want to see an improvement in support lines run and timings also.From an attacking sense I'd rather see Darragh at 15, but I suspect Mils will get Lam's vote to start for the last big game of the Interpro's....

For us: the front row has to take the edge earlier than it did in Dublin, and Aki/Henshaw must click togethter immediately...

What I fear the most is the Leinster scenario : with O'Mahony, O'Donnell, Stander and O'Connell playing the part of Heaslip Jennings Laughlin and Kane, and winnig the match on their own....

Roux vs Paul O'C will be bloody (I insist, on "bloody") magic!

galway_gas wrote:

ConnachtCows wrote: Squad Update ahead of Munster game
while second row Roux is on track for a return after symptoms from the ankle injury sustained in the Friday night warmup improved.

Does this mean Quinn has had contract extension confirmed?

Guess so. The original press release had the following:

Connacht Rugby wrote: Roux will come to Connacht on an initial deal until December 31st and will link up with Head Coach Pat Lam’s squad next month for the beginning of the pre-season period.

Tweeted Connacht, seeing if I can get confirmation. Not expecting to hear back, but as far as I had heard, the loan was always going to be for 12 months, unless something highly unlikely happened

ConnachtCows wrote: Squad Update ahead of Munster game
while second row Roux is on track for a return after symptoms from the ankle injury sustained in the Friday night warmup improved.

Does this mean Quinn has had contract extension confirmed?

Squad Update ahead of Munster game
30th December 2014

Ahead of the sold out New Year’s Day clash between Connacht and Munster at the Sportsground, Pat Lam’s men were back to work on Sunday in advance of the arrival of their provincial rivals to Galway on Thursday (kick off 5pm).

Following the 13 – 10 defeat to Ulster in Belfast on Friday night, there were injury concerns around late withdrawals Ronan Loughney and Quinn Roux. Galway man Loughney, who aggravated his back in training last week, remains a doubt for this week’s clash while second row Roux is on track for a return after symptoms from the ankle injury sustained in the Friday night warmup improved.

The province’s most capped player Michael Swift has been entered in to the return-to-play programme for a concussion he suffered during last week’s training session. It is expected that the second row veteran will be out of action for 2 – 3 weeks.

Scrum half Ian Porter is also facing a similar spell on the sidelines as he continues rehab on a mid-foot sprain.

Meanwhile, back row forward Eoin McKeon, who missed the last round due to a knee sprain, returned to full training yesterday and is available for selection this week.

Similarly, centurion Fionn Carr, who completed the return-to-play protocols for concussion, resumed full training this week and is now available to the coaching staff.

Mick Kearney (ankle) and Tiernan O’Halloran (knee) both commenced running on Monday but the duo are another 2 – 3 weeks away from any match action.

Connacht v Munster
The Sportsground, 5pm.
Live on TG4
Referee: David Wilkinson (IRFU, 32nd competition game)
Assistant Referees: Sean Gallagher, Brian MacNeice (both IRFU)
Citing Commissioner: Wayne Sheridan (IRFU)
TMO: Kevin Beggs (IRFU)

Connacht’s GUINNESS PRO12 clash with Munster on New Year’s Day is now completely SOLD OUT!

Don’t miss the upcoming games against Edinburgh (9th January) and Exeter (18th January). CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS NOW

PRO12 PREVIEW

Connacht are unbeaten in any game at the Sportsground this season, including a 24-all draw against Cardiff Blues in round 5 of the PRO12. Connacht have slipped to successive defeats in the Guinness PRO12 against inter-provincial rivals Leinster and Ulster.

Munster’s only defeat in their last seven Guinness PRO12 encounters was 18-21 in Glasgow in round 10. The Munstermen have lost their last two away games in all tournaments but have not lost three in a row on the road since March 2013. Munster have won their last three contests with fellow Irish provinces.

Connacht’s only victory in their last 41 encounters with Munster since 1986 came at the Sportsground in the PRO12 on 28th December 2008.

Anyone know of two tickets for sale for the game?