BEN O’CONNOR will make his first start for Munster as a fresh-faced Reds XV hits up Rodney Parade tonight.
With Ireland stars Tadhg Beirne, Jack Crowley, Conor Murray, Calvin Nash and Peter O’Mahony away in camp ahead of the Six Nations, O’Connor is one of six changes to the side that faced Northampton last week.
A talented centre-back, O’Connor won two All-Irelands with the Cork hurlers — at minor and Under-20 level — before deciding his long-term future was at Thomond Park.
He starred for Ireland at the Under-20 Rugby World Cup in South Africa last year as the Green Army ultimately came up short against England in the semis.
It will be his eighth appearance overall for the Reds but it is a first start for the exciting rookie, 20.
Academy hooker Danny Sheahan has been named on the bench and is set to make his senior debut as the basement boys host 11-placed Munster.
As well as O’Connor, Shane Daly, Billy Burns Ethan Coughlan, Tom Ahern and captain Jack O’Donoghue come into the team following the two-point Champions Cup defeat to the Saints.
Diarmuid Kilgallen — who scored two tries in last week’s European clash — makes a first URC start for the Reds.
The province confirmed that Mike Haley has successfully gone under the knife after picking up an ankle injury last time out.
MUNSTER: B O’Connor; D Kilgallen, T Farrell, R Scannell, S Daly; B Burns, E Coughlan; D Bleuler, D Barron, O Jager; F Wycherley, T Ahern; J O’Donoghue, A Kendellen, G Coombes.
Reps: D Sheahan, K Ryan, J Ryan, E O’Connell, B Gleeson, P Patterson, T Butler, J Hodnett.
Today’s 7.35pm kick-off will be shown live on RTE Two.
