Cardiff boosted by return of Wales internationals for Munster trip
URC: Munster v Cardiff |
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Venue: Thomond Park, Limerick Date: Saturday, 30 March Kick off: 19:35 GMT |
Coverage: Live on S4C and via iPlayer. Match report on the BBC Sport website and app. Highlights on Scrum V, Sunday, BBC Two Wales and online, Sunday, 31 March from 20:00 BST and later on demand. |
Cardiff are boosted by the return of six Wales internationals for their trip to Munster in the United Rugby Championship (URC).
Wing Josh Adams, full-back Cam Winnett, back-row Alex Mann, hooker Evan Lloyd and props Corey Domachowski and Keiron Assiratti all start.
Cardiff make eight changes in total from last weekend's defeat at Glasgow.
Seb Davies and Ellis Jenkins replace the injured Shane Lewis-Hughes and Teddy Williams.
Cardiff continue to be without Wales scrum-half Tomos Williams after he was injured against Italy in the Six Nations.
Cardiff have lost four straight games in the URC and have not lost five league games in a row since November 2015.
They have also never won a game against Munster at Thomond Park in Limerick.
The Irish side have only lost one home match in the URC this season - against league leaders Leinster - and are currently in fourth place.
Cardiff meanwhile are down in 12th with just three wins in the league all season, narrowly losing to Glasgow last time out.
Cardiff head coach Matt Sherratt said: "It's great to get the rest of our internationals back this week, they are all quality players who give us some strength in depth across the squad.
"We were pleased with a lot of aspects last week up in Glasgow, and the challenge now is to build upon that against another quality team - the reigning champions and a difficult place to play in Thomond Park.
"They have threats across the pitch and are a much more well rounded team than what has perhaps been perceived as a traditional Munster team in the past, so we will have to be at our best."
Munster: Mike Haley, Sean O'Brien, Antoine Frisch, Alex Nankivell, Shane Daly, Jack Crowley, Craig Casey, Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer, RG Snyman, Tadhg Beirne (capt), Peter O'Mahony, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes
Replacements: Eoghan Clarke, Josh Wycherley, John Ryan, Tom Ahern, Alex Kendellen, Ethan Coughlan, Joey Carbery, Simon Zebo.
Cardiff: Cam Winnett; Owen Lane, Mason Grady, Ben Thomas, Josh Adams; Tinus de Beer, Ellis Bevan; Corey Domachowski, Liam Belcher (capt), Keiron Assiratti, Ben Donnell, Seb Davies, Alex Mann, Ellis Jenkins, Mackenzie Martin.
Replacements: Rhys Carre, Evan Lloyd, Will Davies-King, Rory Thornton, Thomas Young, Matthew Aubrey, Jacob Beetham, Theo Cabango.
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR)
Assistant referees: Frank Murphy (IRFU), Matteo Liperini (FIR)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)
