Newport Gwent Dragons v Munster. Saturday 3rd March 18:30. Rodney Parade

Risca Rev wrote:No extended squad named as of yet for the resurgent Dragons, but the general thoughts are that we will get Luke Charteris and Tondi Chavhanga back from their respective injuries. Both are returning at a key time, as Dragons have lost evergreen lock Adam Jones and Adam Hughes to injury (though Hughes shouldn't be laid off for too long).

Munster will of course be heavily hit by the loss of their Irish players and their recent record at Rodney Parade isn't too great. But of course they have been known to cheat out victories when their squad has been stretched similarly before.

Personally, I am looking forward to this game after four months away from Dave Parade (in a weird bit of symmetry, my first game back last year was Munster home) and hopefully the fact we have a decentish turnout given the favourable kick off time for once. Given the lack of internationals on show, I guess it'll be a gate of 5k or so.

Any Munster supporters coming over for this?

Munster Rugby wrote:
With 20 players either injured or not available to train because of their involvement with the national squad, Munster have named a 29 strong squad for the RaboDirect PRO12 game against Newport Gwent Dragons in Rodney Parade on Saturday.

Danny Barnes is missing having sustained a knee injury in the win over Cardiff Blues on Friday but recent signing Save Tokula is named in the squad.

Also included are Damien Varley and Denis Hurley, both were in Carton House for the week. Varley was dispatched on Wednesday but Hurley and Simon Zebo an absentee from the Munster squad, remain for until Friday.

Munster Squad: F Jones, L O'Dea, S Scanlon, J Murphy, D Hurley, S Tokula, L Mafi, I Keatley, S Deasy, T O'Leary, D Williams, C Sheridan, M Horan, W du Preez, S Henry, M Sherry, D Fogarty, D Varley, J Ryan, S Archer, BJ Botha, I Nagle, D Foley, M O'Driscoll, B Holland, T O'Donnell, Dave O'Callaghan, P Butler, J Coughlan.

Munster Rugby wrote:
On the day that Mick O'Driscoll makes his 200th appearance for Munster, Save Tokula will make his first, in the side that takes on Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade (Saturday 6.30).

With Danny Barnes out through injury, Tokula, who arrived in Cork last Sunday week, lines out in the centre alongside Lifeimi Mafi, in a backline that shows just two changes in personnel from last weekend's.

Simon Zebo's involvement with the national squad all week renders him unusable so Luke O'Dea comes into the starting XV in his place.

Up front, only the back-row remains the same.

Dave Foley replaces Billy Holland at lock while Denis Fogarty replaces Damien Varley - who was also involved in Carton - and Stephen Archer starts in place of BJ Botha.

Munster:
15. Felix Jones
14. Luke O'Dea
13. Save Tokula
12. Lifeimi Mafi
11. Johne Murphy
10. Ian Keatley
9. Tomás O'Leary

1. Marcus Horan
2. Denis Fogarty
3. Stephen Archer
4. Dave Foley
5. Mick O'Driscoll capt
6. Dave O'Callaghan
7. Tommy O'Donnell
8. James Coughlan.

Replacements: Mike Sherry, W du Preez, BJ Botha, B Holland, P Butler, D Williams, S Deasy, Denis Hurley.