CJ Stander receives first start of the season as Munster make six changes

Ireland international CJ Stander has received his first start of the season for Munster as head coach Johann van Grann has made six changes to the side that defeated the Ospreys 49-13 last Friday in Cork.

Stander returns to the backrow for the trip to Cardiff where he will anchor the Munster scrum alongside captain Peter O'Mahony and flanker Chris Cloete while hooker Mike Sherry and second-row Jean Kleyn are the only other changes to the starting pack. Meanwhile Joey Carbery has retained his spot at fly-half and will once again line up alongside Duncan Williams in the halves while JJ Hanrahan has moved to full-back in place of Mike Haley who drops out of the matchday squad entirely. Elsewhere in the backline Rory Scannell returns to the starting side where he will form a new look centre partnership alongside Jaco Taute who makes his first start of the season since returning from a knee injury. Winger Keith Earls and hooker Rhys Marshall were both unavailable for selection after apparently picking up knocks during training. Munster: JJ Hanrahan; Andrew Conway, Jaco Taute, Rory Scannell, Darren Sweetnam; Joey Carbery, Duncan Williams; James Cronin, Mike Sherry, Stephen Archer; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne; Peter O’Mahony (C), Chris Cloete, CJ Stander. Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Dave Kilcoyne, Brian Scott, Darren O’Shea, Tommy O’Donnell, Jack Stafford, Bill Johnston, Shane Daly. https://www.sportsjoe.ie/rugby/analysis-chris-cloete-perfect-complement-peter-omahony-177858