Munster make five changes as Ulster welcome back Rory Best

Munster coach Anthony Foley has made five changes from the side that secured a bonus point victory over the Dragons for their Guinness Pro12 clash with Ulster at Thomond Park (7.35, Friday, live on TG4, BBC 2).

Centre and new recruit Pat Howard makes his first start for the home side, while BJ Botha is named at tighthead. Donncha O'Callaghan will lead the team in a pack that shows a slight reshuffle in the backrow, with Robin Copeland named at blindside flanker and CJ Stander at number eight.

Duncan Williams begins at scrumhalf while Howard, who made his debut in the win over the Dragons when coming on as a replacement is named in midfield alongside Denis Hurley. Gerhard van den Heever is promoted to the right wing with JJ Hanrahan enjoying a second successive match in the slightly unfamiliar fullback position.

Three internationals, Dave Kilcoyne, Tommy O'Donnell and Felix Jones, return from Ireland duty and are named among the replacements, as is young Garryowen scrumhalf Neil Cronin, as Cathal Sheridan is sidelined with an arm injury.

Ulster welcome back captain Rory Best and given his recent injury enforced sabbatical it’s not a surprise that the Irish hooker starts this important match between the second and third placed sides in the table. He is joined in the pack by secondrow Alan O’Connor who is promoted to the starting lineup, Roger Wilson switches to blindside flanker with Nick Williams coming in at number eight.

Ian Humphreys replaces the injured Paddy Jackson at outhalf while Stuart Olding continues in his fledgling role at fullback. Ireland backrow Robbie Diack is named on a bench that includes a fit against Michael Allen.

Munster: JJ Hanrahan; G van den Heever, P Howard, D Hurley, R O’Mahony; I Keatley, D Williams; J Ryan, D Casey, BJ Botha; D O’Callaghan (capt), B Holland; R Copeland, P Butler, CJ Stander. Replacements: K O’Byrne, D Kilcoyne, S Archer, T O’Donnell, S Dougall, N Cronin, A Smith, F Jones.

Ulster: S Olding; L Ludik, D Cave, S McCloskey C Gilroy; I Humphreys, P Marshall; C Black, R Best (capt), W Herbst; A O’Connor, F vd Merwe; R Wilson, S Reidy, N Williams. Replacements: R Herring, A Warwick, D Fitzpatrick, L Stevenson, R Diack, M Heaney, M Allen, P Nelson.