Rugby - Team news:After a superb try last weekend in the pre-season defeat to Leicester at Welford Road, Felix Jones gets the nod at fullback for the defending champions ahead of tomorrow's Magners League opener against Glasgow Warriors at Firhill.
Denis Hurley touched down twice in Scotland and also retains his place on the left wing, with Doug Howlett on the right and fellow Kiwis Lifiemi Mafi and Jeremy Manning named at inside centre and outhalf respectively.
The latter will partner Peter Stringer behind the scrum and the former will chaperone 24-year-old Tom Gleeson through his first competitive appearance after he impressed in the 34-28 defeat to the Tigers.
In the pack, lock Mick O’Driscoll will captain the side and alongside him Donnacha Ryan will look to get a big season underway early.
Tony Buckley is named in a frontrow consisting of fellow Ireland prop Marcus Horan and hooker Denis Fogarty. New signing Julien Brugnaut is named as one of the prop replacements.
Billy Holland will have a chance to impress from blindside backrow, with Niall Ronan and Denis Leamy for company.
Glasgow have included three new additions in the starting XV, with the Scottish trio of scrumhalf Chris Cusiter, centre Peter Murchie and wing Rob Dewey coming into the fray.
"We have three quality scrum-halves and Chris has made a huge impact since he arrived here over the summer. I can't wait to see him perform in the Magners League,” said coach Sean Lineen today.
"Rob has shown his scoring potential already and you can see the quality left out of the team as a result with Hefin O'Hare and DTH van der Merwe challenging for a starting place.
"Peter Murchie is a classic case of a guy taking his chance. He is still learning but his work ethic is first-class and I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do against Munster."
A one-point win over Wasps last week has done wonders for morale but Lineen know his side are in for a “huge challenge”.
“This is where it all starts. Pre-season is pre-season and it will all count for nothing unless we perform on the pitch on Friday night.”
New Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin has named Ian Humphreys at outhalf in his team for Sunday’s meeting with Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade.
The youngster will partner scrumhalf Isaac Boss, while Ian Whitten and Simon Danielli are to start in the centre.
Hooker and new signing Andy Kyriacou starts in the frontrow with Bryan Young and Brendan Botha.
Munster: F Jones; D Howlett, T Gleeson, L Mafi, D Hurley; J Manning, P Stringer; M Horan, D Fogarty, T Buckley; M O'Driscoll (capt), D Ryan; B Holland, N Ronan, D Leamy. Replacements: D Varley, J Brugnaut, T O'Donnell, J Coughlan, T Morland, S Deasy, B Murphy.
Glasgow Warriors: B Stortoni; R Dewey, P Murchie, G Morrison, T Evans; D Parks, C Cusiter; J Welsh, D Hall, M Low; T Barker, A Kellock (capt); K Brown, J Barclay, J Beattie. Replacements: P MacArthur, K Tkachuk, D Turner, R Vernon, M McMillan, R Jackson, C Shaw
Ulster: B Cunningham, T Nagusa, A Trimble, I Whitten, S Danielli, I Humphreys, I Boss; B Young, A Kyriacou, B Botha, D Tuohy, R Caldwell, C Henry, W Faloon, R Diack. Replacements: N Brady, D Fitzpatrick, E O'Donoghue, T Anderson, P Marshall, P Wallace, D Cave.
