Rugby:Simon Zebo has returned to Munster's left wing for Sunday's must-win Heineken Cup game against Edinburgh at Murrayfield (12.45pm), in one of five personnel changes from the side that lost to Cardiff last weekend.
The Ireland international replaces Denis Hurley in the only change to Rob Penney’s backline.
Up front, Damien Varley’s return to the frontrow shunts fellow hooker Mick Sherry to the bench, while prop BJ Botha replaces Stephen Archer. In the secondrow the experience of Donncha O’Callaghan is preferred to Dave Foley, while Peter O’Mahony’s return to the backrow sees Sean Dougall make way and Tommy O’Donnell move to openside.
Munster need their first away win of the competition at Murrayfield, if they are to have any hope of overhauling pool leaders Saracens and second-placed Racing Metro. Edinburgh coach Michael Bradley has made three changes to his side as last season's semi-finalists look to end a disappointing campaign on a high in their final home game.
“This is our final home match in this competition and we would like to acknowledge the support that the fans have given us over the last couple of weeks with a big performance," said Bradley today. “We would take a lot of confidence from getting a win against Munster in this match and putting pressure on them in terms of quarter-final qualification.
“They haven’t won away from home in this competition yet and will understand the importance of that to their chances of qualification, which makes them very dangerous. Somebody’s going to be disappointed on Sunday after the game and it’s our intention that it will be Munster.”
Bradley added: “A win from this game would be huge. Where we’re playing, who we’re playing in front of and how we’ve performed so far this year means that we would love to get a victory in the competition, and would love to get that victory at home.
“It’s a huge game for us.”
Bradley has recalled Welsh international scrumhalf Richie Rees in place of Piers Francis, while the club’s top tryscorer in the competition Ben Cairns is selected at outside centre. Hooker Steven Lawrie will make his first start since he returned from a year-long injury lay-off last month.
Regarding the other match in Pool One, Saracens centre Brad Barritt has described the game against Racing in Nantes as “a huge challenge”. Victory for Saracens would leave them in control of their destiny, with a quarter-final place confirmed if they then beat Edinburgh at home on Sunday week.
“We said the home game against Munster last month was a must-win, and this is another one,” Barritt said. “Racing have shown what a fine team they are and the pedigree they possess is very strong. We will have to be on top of our game to beat them in Nantes. It is a huge challenge. To win the competition you have to beat the best.
“To have a strong pool with the likes of Munster, Racing and Edinburgh can only stand you in good stead because you have that extra preparation come the knockout stage. No-one is ever going to remember who came second or third. You want to win trophies and a group like this can only prepare you well.”
Wing Chris Ashton, scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth, prop Rhys Gill and lock Mouritz Botha are all recalled to the Saracens starting XV for the clash at Nantes’ 38,000-capacity Stade de la Beaujoire.
Edinburgh (v Munster):G Tonks; D Fife, B Cairns, M Scott, T Visser; G Laidlaw (capt), R Rees; A Jacobsen, S Lawrie, W Nel; G Gilchrist, S Cox; S McInally, D Basilaia, D Denton. Replacements: A Titterrell, R Hislop, G Cross, N Talei, R Grant, P Francis,B Atiga, S Visser.
Munster (v Edinburgh):F Jones; D Howlett (capt), K Earls, J Downey, S Zebo; R O'Gara, C Murray; D Kilcoyne, D Varley,BJ Botha; D O'Callaghan, D Ryan; P O'Mahony, T O'Donnell, J Coughlan. Replacements: M Sherry, W du Preez, S Archer, B Holland, P Butler, D Williams, I Keatley, C Laulala.
