PRO 12 Cardiff Blues v Munster:DEFENDING CHAMPIONS Munster have returned to where they are most comfortable, the top of the RaboDirect PRO12 league table.
Facing Cardiff in Wales, coach Tony McGahan has brought in centre Danny Barnes after injury and rotates others, making six changes to the side that beat Llanelli in the last match. Barnes missed that game with a hand injury and is one of two changes to the back line, the other being scrumhalf Duncan Williams, who partners Ian Keatley this week.
Up front Munster introduce 23-year-old prop John Ryan to the squad. The former under-20 international has been drafted onto the bench for Marcus Horan, who is sick. John Hayes is rested with Wian du Preez and Stephen Archer coming into the frontrow.
Munster achieved a league double against Cardiff last season. Last week’s victory has stretched their record-breaking winning run to 13 matches and they have conceded only one try in their last six matches (322 minutes). Munster currently hold the record for the longest spell without conceding a try, with a 371-minute sequence in the 2004-05 season.
Between injury and the World Cup, Cardiff have 16 players missing. Still they have made seven changes, four in the backs and three in the forwards to the side that lost to Ulster last weekend. But they won their opening two matches and are confident, even against Munster, of returning to winning form.
CARDIFF: D Fish; A Cuthbert, G Evans, D Hewitt, R Mustoe; C Sweeney, R Rees; S Hobbs, R Thomas, S Andrews; P Tito (c), D Jones; M Paterson, M Molitika, A Pretorious. Replacements: R Williams, N Trevett, R Harford, X Rush, T Young, L Jones, R Patchell, C Laulala.
MUNSTER: J Murphy; D Howlett, D Barnes, L Mafi, D Hurley; I Keatley, D Williams; W du Preez, M Sherry, S Archer; B Holland, M O'Driscoll; P O'Mahony (c), T O'Donnell, J Coughlan. Replacements: D Fogarty, J Ryan, J Hayes, D Foley, N Ronan, P Stringer, S Deasy, T Gleeson.
Referee: D Wilkinson(IRFU).
Verdict: Home win
