O’Mahony to start as captain against Leinster

Munster’s Peter O’Mahony makes a welcome return to the starting line-up and resumes his role as captain for the side’s Guinness Pro12 clash with Leinster tomorrow.

Showing no ill effects from his return to competitive action last weekend, flanker O’Mahony is one of three personnel changes to the pack with Niall Scannell and John Ryan returning to the front row. 

Two positional switches in the pack see Donnacha Ryan move to 4, partnered by Billy Holland who reverts to the second row.

In the backs, Rory Scannell has successfully rehabbed the neck injury he sustained against Cardiff in round 2 to start alongside Keith Earls in the centre for the first time this season.  The final change sees Ronan O’Mahony start on the left wing.

Should he feature from the bench tomorrow, Robin Copeland will make his first appearance of the season while also named among the replacements is Jack O’Donoghue who returns to action following a neck injury picked up in the win over Edinburgh in round 4.

Munster XV: Simon Zebo; Darren Sweetnam, Keith Earls, Rory Scannell, Ronan O’Mahony; Tyler Bleyendaal, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell, John Ryan; Donnacha Ryan, Billy Holland; Peter O’Mahony Capt., Tommy O’Donnell, CJ Stander. 

Replacements: Duncan Casey, James Cronin, Stephen Archer, Robin Copeland, Jack O’Donoghue, Duncan Williams, Ian Keatley, Jaco Taute.