Saili to start for Munster

Francis Saili will make his first Munster start of the season in Saturday's Pro 12 clash with reigning champions Connacht at the Sportsground.

Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus has made 11 changes to the table-topping Munster side that beat Leinster 29-17 at Thomond Park on St Stephen's Day, with only winger Ronan O’Mahony, prop James Cronin, second row Jean Kleyn and flanker Tommy O’Donnell keeping their places.

Saili joins Academy graduate Dan Goggin in a new centre pairing, while Keith Earls replaces the injured Darren Sweetnam on the wing.

Duncan Williams and Ian Keatley start at half-back, while Andrew Conway comes in at full-back following an ankle injury.

Rhys Marshall and Stephen Archer come into the front row alongside Cronin, Dave Foley partners Kleyn in the second row, and Billy Holland and Jack O’Donoghue join O'Donnell in the back row.

Connacht coach Pat Lam makes four changes to the side that lost 23-7 to Ulster on 23 December, with Peter Robb in at centre alongside fellow Academy graduate Rory Parata in an otherwise unchanged back-line.

Tom McCartney starts at hooker and will captain the side, while Fijian Naulia Dawai will make his first start for the province at number 8. Jake Heenan starts at openside, with Nepia Fox-Matamua moving to blindside flanker.

"With over half of our senior squad unavailable through injury and more players going down this week either with injury or sickness, it's been another incredibly challenging week," Lam said.

"We know it's going to be very tough against Munster but despite the setbacks we have confidence in the players left standing."

Connacht: Tiernan O'Halloran; Niyi Adeolokun, Rory Parata, Peter Robb, Matt Healy; Jack Carty, Kieran Marmion; Denis Buckley, Tom McCartney (capt), Finlay Bealham, Quinn Roux, James Cannon, Nepia Fox-Matamua, Jake Heenan, Naulia Dawai.

Replacements: Dave Heffernan, JP Cooney, John Andress, Lewis Stevenson, Daniel Qualter, Caolin Blade, Ciaran Gaffney, Rory Moloney.

Munster: Andrew Conway; Keith Earls, Francis Saili, Dan Goggin, Ronan O’Mahony; Ian Keatley, Duncan Williams; James Cronin, Rhys Marshall, Stephen Archer; Jean Kleyn, Dave Foley; Billy Holland (Capt.), Tommy O’Donnell, Jack O’Donoghue.

Replacements: Dave Kilcoyne, Kevin O’Byrne, Thomas Du Toit, Robin Copeland, Conor Oliver, Te Aihe Toma, Rory Scannell, Jaco Taute.

eir Sport channels are available across the eir Vision, Sky and Vodafone TV platforms as well as on the eir Sport app. All 6 channels in the eir Sport pack are available for free if you are a residential eir broadband customer.