Munster welcome Paul O’Connell back for Kingspan Stadium visit

Roger Wilson will become Ulster’s most capped Pro12 player

Paul O’Connell returns to the Munster team as expected. Photo: Donall Farmer/Inpho
Paul O’Connell returns to the Munster team as expected. Photo: Donall Farmer/Inpho

Paul O'Connell will partner Donnacha Ryan in the Munster second row as Anthony Foley's team aim to break Ulster's unbeaten home record on Saturday.

O’Connell is one of three changes for the visit to the Kingspan Stadium, and it’ll be the first time he partners Ryan since playing Perpignan in December 2013.

The other change to the pack sees Argentine international Eusebio Guinazu trading places with Duncan Casey in the front row.

Denis Hurley is the only change to the backline and he joins Andrew Smith in the centre partnership with Simon Zebo, Keith Earls and Felix Jones continuing as the back three.

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For Ulster Roger Wilson will become the province's most capped Pro12 player when he lines out tomorrow afternoon (kick-off 2.40pm).

The 33 year-old will play his 132nd game in the competition and takes over from Paddy Wallace as the Ulster player to have made the most appearances in the competition.

Peter Nelson is the sole change from the side that defeated Leinster in Belfast a fortnight ago with winger Craig Gilroy picking up a hamstring strain in training this week .

Munster: Felix Jones; Keith Earls, Andrew Smith, Denis Hurley, Simon Zebo; Ian Keatley, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Eusebio Guinazu, Stephen Archer; Donnacha Ryan, Paul O'Connell; Peter O'Mahony, Tommy O'Donnell, CJ Stander.

Replacements: Duncan Casey, John Ryan, BJ Botha, Billy Holland, Jack O’Donoghue, Duncan Williams, JJ Hanrahan, Ronan O’Mahony.

Ulster: L Ludik; T Bowe, J Payne, D Cave, P Nelson, P Jackson, R Pienaar; C Black, R Best, W Herbst, D Tuohy, F van der Merwe, I Henderson, C Henry, R Wilson.

Replacements: R Herring, A Warwick, B Ross, R Diack, C Ross, P Marshall, I Humphreys, S McCloskey.

Eamon Donoghue

Eamon Donoghue

Eamon Donoghue is a former Irish Times journalist