Rugby:Peter Stringer will make his first start for Munster in almost a year when Rob Penney's side take on the Newport Gwent Dragons this Saturday. The veteran scrumhalf's last start for the province was in Edinburgh on September 30th last.
Stringer will have Ronan O’Gara on his shoulder at Thomond Park, one of the most familiar partnerships in Irish rugby re-united from the start for the first time in 19 months. Penney’s hand has been somewhat forced by a glut of injuries picked up against Ulster last weekend, with eight of the side that lost in Ravenhill ruled out through injury and illness.
In all, Penney has made eight changes to his starting XV with James Coughlan and Luke O'Dea out of action for a number of weeks while Denis Hurley and Ivan Dineen have come down with illness.
Ireland internationals Keith Earls and Simon Zebo will make their first starts of the season while Marcus Horan and Mike Sherry join BJ Botha in the front row.
Munster:I Keatley; D Howlett, K Earls, J Downey, S Zebo; R O'Gara, P Stringer; M Horan, M Sherry, BJ Botha; Donncha O'Callaghan, B Holland; Dave O'Callaghan, N Ronan, P Butler. Replacements:D Varley, W du Preez, S Archer, D Foley, T O'Donnell, C Murray, D Barnes, JJ Hanrahan.
