Just four players – skipper Doug Howlett, centre James Downey scrum-half Conor Murray and flanker Tommy O'Donnell – retain their places in the Munster starting XV for the visit of Cardiff Blues to Cork (Musgrave Park 7.30)

Keith Earls returns from injury to partner James Downey in the centre while CJ Stander also returns from injury to be named on the bench

Munster: F Jones; D Howlett capt, K Earls, J Downey, J Murphy; R O’Gara, C Murray; D Kilcoyne, M Sherry, S Archer; D Foley, D Ryan; T O’Donnell, S Dougall, J Coughlan. Replacements: S Henry, W du Preez, BJ Botha, B Holland, CJ Stander, D Williams, I Keatley, C Laulala.