Five changes for Munster ahead of Cheetahs clash

Munster head coach Johann Van Graan has named his side for Friday evening’s Guinness PRO14 clash against an in-form Cheetahs team at Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein, Kick-off 5.15 pm (Irish time).

Billy Holland will captain the side as one of five changes to the team that beat Southern Kings last week with Tyler Bleyendaal, Nick McCarthy, Jeremy Loughman and Rhys Marshall also included.

Mike Haley starts at full-back with Darren Sweetnam and Shane Daly will take to the wings.

McCarthy and Bleyendaal form a new half-back partnership with the centre pairing of Rory Scannell and Dan Goggin unchanged.

Loughman, Marshall and Stephen Archer pack down in the front row with Fineen Wycherley and Holland in the engine room.

The back row of Jack O’Donoghue, Tommy O’Donnell and Arno Botha are unchanged.

Academy player Keynan Knox is in line to make his second PRO14 appearance off the bench with Calvin Nash in line for his first competitive action of the season.

The Cheetahs free-flowing style of Rugby this season has gotten them plenty of tries and two bonus-point victories from two games in this season’s Pro14 competition.

Van Graan is well aware of the dangers the Cheetahs possess in preparation for Friday’s clash at Toyota Stadium:

“They are a team on form and have been excellent in the Currie Cup. In the Pro14 so far they have dispatched Glasgow and Ulster comfortably at home, and hopefully, we can learn from those games.”