O'Gara and Kilcoyne start for Munster

Rugby: Munster coach Rob Penney has made five changes for the visit of the Ospreys to Thomond Park on Saturday, including the…

Munster scrumhalf Cathal Sheridan. Photograph: Cathal Noonan/Inpho

Rugby:Munster coach Rob Penney has made five changes for the visit of the Ospreys to Thomond Park on Saturday, including the return of internationals Ronan O'Gara and Dave Kilcoyne and skipper Doug Howlett.

O’Gara will be partnered at halfback by Sligo-born scrumhalf Cathal Sheridan who will make his competitive debut.

Penney continues to rotate Garryowen clubmates Damien Varley and Mike Sherry at hooker, with Varley getting the nod this time around.

Penney keeps faith with the back five selected for Treviso even though flanker Niall Ronan played 80 minutes with Shannon. Sean Dougall is preferred as backrow back-up to CJ Stander who is omitted from the matchday squad.

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MUNSTER (v Ospreys, Thomond Park, Saturday, 6.30pm):F Jones; D Howlett, C Laulala, J Downey, D Hurley; R O'Gara, C Sheridan; D Kilcoyne, D Varley, S Archer, I Nagle, B Holland, P Butler, T O'Donnell, J Coughlan. Replacements: M Sherry, W du Preez, BJ Botha, D Foley, S Dougall, D Williams, I Keatley, I Dineen.

OSPREYS:R Fussell; T Habberfield, J Spratt, A Beck, T Isaacs; M Morgan, K Fotuali'I; D Jones, S Baldwin, C Griffiths, AW Jones (Capt), L Peers, J King, S Lewis, J Thomas. Replacements: M Dwyer, M Thomas, D Arhip, I Gough, D Baker, A Ellis/S Davies, R Webb, T Grabham.