Head coach Rob Penney has made sweeping changes from last weekend's defeat to Saracens as they prepare to travel to the Sportsground in Galway.

James Coughlan will captain the side and is one of just five survivors from the trip to Vicarage Road.

Mike Sherry, James Downey, Donnacha O'Callaghan and Dave Kilcoyne are the others players to keep their places as the likes of Denis Hurley, Tommy O'Donnell and Sean Dougall return from injury to start.

Peter Stringer and Ian Keatley are the starting half-backs.

Munster XV to play Connacht: D Hurley; J Murphy, C Laulala, J Downey, L O'Dea; I Keatley, P Stringer; D Kilcoyne, M Sherry, S Archer; D O'Callaghan, B Holland; P Butler, T O'Donnell, J Coughlan (capt). Replacements: S Henry, W du Preez, BJ Botha, D Foley, S Dougall, D Williams, JJ Hanrahan, D Barnes.

©INPHO