Munster v Border Reivers (Sat)

Christian Cullen is not in the Munster line-up

Thomond Park
Saturday, 9 September
Kick-off: 1930 BST

Border Reivers coach Steve Bates gives Mark Robertson his first taste of professional rugby in the Magners League game at Thomond Park.

The winger, who won last season's Scottish Rugby try of the year award, starts a top game for the first time.

Another Reivers debutant, 23-year-old Steve Jones, succeeds Gregor Townsend in the No.10 shirt after coming on as a replacement against Connacht.

Munster make three changes to the side which lost to the Blues last weekend.

Christian Cullen, Ian Dowling and Ross Noonan are not included but Mossy Lawlor, Tim McGann and either Ciaran O'Boyle or Tom Gleeson come in.

McGann comes in for his debut.

Coach Delan Kidney must decide whether to include O'Boyle or Gleeson on the wing, while another place has been left vacant on the bench.

LAST SEASON'S LEAGUE MEETINGS 28 April: Border Reivers 25-41 Munster 2 September: Munster 9-7 Border Reivers

Borders coach Bates said: "The squad have all played well during the summer and we are still unsure about one or two players' positions in the back division so the changes reflect that."

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Munster: S Payne; C O'Boyle or T Gleeson; J Kelly, J Downey, M Lawlor; J Manning, T O'Leary; D Hurley, F Sheahan, F Pucciariello; C Wyatt, D Ryan; J O'Sullivan, T McGann, J Coughlin.
Replacements: T Ryan, AN Other, S O'Connor, B Cuttriss, G Hurley, E Hickey, T Gleeson or D Hurley.

Border Reivers: C MacRae; G Law, N De Luca, B MacDougall, M Robertson; S Jones, C Cusiter; G Kerr, R Ford, B Douglas; O Palepoi, S Grimes; S Gray, R Beattie, K Brown.
Replacements: S Scott, E Kalman, C Hamilton, J Dalziel, B McKerchar, G Townsend, A Miller.