Rassie Erasmus has named a mixture of experience and youth for his sides first Pro 14 game.

Academy loose forward Sean O’Connor and now Irish International Andrew Conway are the only two changes to the side that defeated Worcester last week, coming in at flanker and full back respectively.

Another academy player getting the nod from the start is prop Liam O’Connor who is joined in the front row by Stephen Archer and New Zealander Rhys Marshall.

Billy Holland moves back to his favoured position of second row with Jean Kleyn returning to partner him after a long injury lay off due to a neck problem picked up last season.

Tommy O’Donnell, who was a doubt after getting a head injury against Worcester has followed return to play protocols and will start at openside with Jack O’Donoghue packing down at number 8.

Preview | Munster looking for strong start against resurgent @BenettonRugbyhttps://t.co/ovUCqj9nsf#MUNvBEN pic.twitter.com/Jol4u0jZ9Z

— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) August 30, 2017

After an impressive performance last week, Duncan Williams regains his starting spot along side Captain Tyler Bleyendaal. Jaco Taute and Chris Farrell, making his competitive debut for Munster, will be join Bleyendaal in the backline.

Andrew Conway, who is two games shy of 100 Pro 14 appearances, will be joined in the back three by Darren Sweetnam and Alex Wootton. Mike Sherry returns to competitive action, from the substitutes with Ciaran Parker and James Hart joining him who will be hoping to make their competitive debuts too. Robin Copeland has successfully rehabbed his shoulder injury and also features on the bench.

Munster: Andrew Conway, Darren Sweetnam, Chris Farrell, Jaco Taute, Alex Wootton; Tyler Bleyendaal – capt., Duncan Williams; Liam O’Connor, Rhys Marshall, Stephen Archer; Jean Kleyn, Billy Holland; Sean O’Connor, Tommy O’Donnell, Jack O’Donoghue.

Replacements: Mike Sherry, Brian Scott, Ciaran Parker, Fineen Wycherley, Robin Copeland, James Hart, Ian Keatley, Dan Goggin.

On the injury front, Conor Oliver will be out until the new year following his shoulder surgery this week whilst new recruit Gerbrandt Grobler will see a specialist ext week after picking up an ankle knock against Worcester last week. James Cronin will miss the opening rounds of the Pro 14 after undergoing a knee scope.

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