Lions star Beirne back in pack as Van Graan mixes it up

TADHG BEIRNE will make his first appearance of the season this evening against Connacht, but fellow Lions tourist Conor Murray will have to bide his time until next weekend’s game away to the Ospreys. Beirne (below), who made two appearances from the bench against the Springboks, is one of 14 changes to the young side that blitzed the Scarlets 43-13 last Sunday. Chris Cloete, man-of-thematch at Parc Y Scarlets, is the only player to retain his place as head coach Johann van Graan rotates his side for this interpro derby at Thomond Park. Keith Earls, Simon Zebo, Joey Carbery, Dave Kilcoyne, Peter O’Mahony and Gavin Coombes all return to Munster’s ranks, while out-half Jake Flannery is named on the bench. Meanwhile, Connacht are boosted by the return of Bundee Aki to the starting line-up. The Ireland centre starts alongside Sammy Arnold in midfield, while Niall Murray and Conor Oliver have been drafted into the pack. MUNSTER: M Haley; A Conway, K Earls, R Scannell, S Zebo; J Carbery, C Casey; D Kilcoyne, N Scannell, J Ryan; J Kleyn, T Beirne; P O’Mahony (capt), C Cloete, G Coombes. Reps: D Barron, J Loughman, S Archer, F Wycherley, J O’Donoghue, N Cronin, J Flannery, D Goggin CONNACHT: T O’Halloran; J Porch, S Arnold, B Aki, M Hansen; J Carty (capt), C Blade; M Burke, D Heffernan, F Bealham; N Murray, U Dillane; C Prendergast, C Oliver, P Boyle. Reps: S Delahunt, G McGrath, J Aungier, E Masterson, A Papali’i, K Marmion, T Daly, J Butler. REFEREE: C Busby (Ireland). TV: Live RTÉ2, kick-off: 7.35pm. VERDICT: Munster.