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Stander, O'Mahony and Beirne all start Munster's PRO14 opener

Munster head coach Johann van Graan has named an experienced side for Saturday's Guinness PRO14 e...



Munster head coach Johann van Graan has named an experienced side for Saturday's Guinness PRO14 encounter with the Scarlets. 

Peter O'Mahony captains the team from the blindside, and is part of a back row laden with experience.

His international teammates CJ Stander and Jack O'Donoghue both start. Packing down in front of them in the second row will be Tadhg Beirne and the fit again Jean Kleyn.

James Cronin, Rhys Marshall and John Ryan make up the front row.

Scrum-half Craig Casey continues to deputise for the injured Conor Murray. Outside him will be JJ Hanrahan.

The powerful centre partnership of Damian de Allende and Chris Farrell gets another chance to impress.

Andrew Conway and Darren Sweetnam provide the width, with Mike Haley at full-back.

Having lost their tenth semi-final in nine competitions last month, Beirne says Munster start the season with something to prove.

"There is always going to be frustration of course," the lock said, "Everyone wants to win silverware and I came from my last season in Scarlets where I lost a semi-final and a final and to come here and lose another few semi-finals it is quite frustrating.

“Each year everyone starts on zero as they say in the league and there is another opportunity to win, so there is excitement too.

“Since I have come here I can feel the development of the squad and I can feel like the way things are coming together, they are getting better and better and we are certainly close, I feel that and I think hopefully all going well we will be in the same situation next year and come May and June we will go that one step further this time."

Munster XV v Scarlets:
15. Mike Haley
14. Andrew Conway
13. Chris Farrell
12. Damian de Allende
11. Darren Sweetnam
10. JJ Hanrahan
9. Craig Casey

1. James Cronin
2. Rhys Marshall
3. John Ryan
4. Jean Kleyn
5. Tadhg Beirne
6. Peter O’Mahony (C)
7. Jack O’Donoghue
8. CJ Stander

Replacements: 16. Kevin O’Byrne, 17. Jeremy Loughman, 18. Stephen Archer, 19. Fineen Wycherley, 20. Gavin Coombes, 21. Neil Cronin, 22. Ben Healy, 23. Rory Scannell

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CJ Stander Chris Farrell Damian De Allende Jean Kleyn Jj Hanrahan Munster Munster Rugby Peter O'Mahony Scarlets Tadhg Beirne