Jack Carty returns to Connacht team for Munster meeting

Captain Jack Carty will make his first appearance of the season in tomorrow’s historic BKT United Rugby Championship interpro against Munster.

The fly-half has recovered from wrist surgery to take his place in the starting team. There are five changes in total from the side that faced the Vodacom Bulls last week.

Shamus Hurley-Langton is handed his first start, while Gavin Thornbury, Byron Ralston and Conor Fitzgerald also return to the starting XV.

Fitzgerald is handed the number #15 jersey while David Hawkshaw starts at inside-centre. Kieran Marmion, Mack Hansen and John Porch make up the rest of the backs.

The experienced front row of Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan and Finlay Bealham is unchanged, while Oisín Dowling partners Thornbury in the second row. Flanker Conor Oliver and number 8 Jarrad Butler complete the starting XV.

It is set to be a momentous occasion with the new state-of-the-art synthetic surface playing host to its first fixture. Limited tickets remain on sale at connachtrugby.ie.

"We won’t hide from the fact our performances and results haven’t been good enough” says Connacht director of Rugby Andy Friend.

“We’ve been guilty of too many unforced errors, and at this level you’re going to be punished” added Friend.

“As is always the case against Munster, the team who brings the greater level of physicality, linked with superior discipline and minimal error count is that team that usually comes out on top, so those three things are a key focus for us this week.

“With the new pitch and our friends, family and supporters behind us, we’ll be doing everything in our power to get that first win of the season."