The twenty two year old's excellent form of late sees him rewarded with a place in the starting line-up for what will be his second start in a Munster shirt at senior level. He made his debut almost exactly a year ago in Stradey Park against Llanelli Scarlets.

The other change from the side that started against Edinburgh last weekend is in the back row where Denis Leamy is preferred to John O'Sullivan while Donncha O'Callaghan returns to the 22 having missed last weekend with a shoulder injury.

Paul O'Connell made a return to action last weekend having recovered from a broken thumb sustained in the RBS Six Nations game against Scotland and his return to Murrayfield proved a happy occasion, the Munster lock playing the full game and also winning the Man of the Match award.

"Whatever about the award," said O'Connell, "I was delighted to get that game under my belt and get through it ok. It was great to be back. You don't normally get man of the match awards unless those around you are performing and I think there were a few who might have been given it (award) instead of me and I would have had no complaints at all."

Although not in contention for any honours in the League O'Connell focus is clear. "No, it's a pity that we don't have a say in where the trophy ends up. A few disappointing results early on has us where we are and maybe that's a good lesson for us. But we've won three in a row now and I think it's really important for us to put in a strong perfomance and continue in that vein."

Munster: D Hurley; A Horgan, B Murphy, L Mafi, I Dowling; R O'Gara, T O'Leary; F Pucciariello, F Sheahan, T Buckley; M O'Driscoll, P O'Connell capt; A Quinlan, D Leamy, A Foley. Replacements: D Fogarty, F Roche, D O'Callaghan, J O'Sullivan, B O'Meara, J Manning, M Lawlor.