PRO12 Teams: O'Connell to start for Munster

Paul O'Connell will start just his second RaboDirect PRO12 game of the season for Munster against Newport Gwent Dragons on Friday night (1915 kick-off).

South African winger Gerhard van den Heever will make his debut with Keith Earls, James Downey and Ian Keatley all returning from injury.

Billy Holland will captain the side at Rodney Parade.

Munster go into the game as league leaders and will be keen to extend their five-game winning streak.

In making 12 changes to a side that performed so impressively last weekend against Cardiff, Rob Penney has given his players a chance to impress ahead of the crucial Heineken Cup double-header against Perpignan.

"There are some players getting an opportunity this week that will need to play well to force their hand in terms of ERC selection," said the New Zealander.

"It's exciting because the other guys have done their job and when you're growing in depth and guys are getting rotated in, then they've got to perform well when they get their opportunity."

Munster: Felix Jones, Gerhard van den Heever, Keith Earls, James Downey, Denis Hurley, Ian Keatley, Duncan Williams; Dave Kilcoyne, Mike Sherry, Stephen Archer, Donncha O'Callaghan, Paul O'Connell, Billy Holland (c), CJ Stander, James Coughlan.

Replacements: Damien Varley, James Cronin, BJ Botha, Ian Nagle, Barry O'Mahony, Cathal Sheridan, JJ Hanrahan, Ivan Dineen.

Robbie Henshaw

Connacht head coach Pat Lam has recalled Robbie Henshaw to his team to face Edinburgh in Friday's RaboDirect PRO12 clash at Murrayfield (1945 kick-off).

Henshaw is one of six changes to the team that lined out against Scarlets last weekend.

Irish international Henshaw returns to the mix and starts at full back against the Scottish side, fresh from signing a new two-year deal with the Westerners.

Henshaw is joined in the back three by Connacht's record try scorer Fionn Carr and last week's try scorer Matt Healy.

Former Scottish international Dan Parks has been named at out-half.

Up front, Ronan Loughney starts at loosehead in place of the injured Brett Wilkinson. Mick Kearney has been handed his first start of the season after coming off the bench in the last two PRO12 games. At 6'5", the 22-year-old joins skipper Craig Clarke in the second row.

Eoin McKeon returns to the side after missing three months due to injury. The back rower, who played 80 minutes for club side Buccaneers last weekend, starts at Number 8.

Prop Denis Buckley is named on the replacements bench which also includes forward John Muldoon on his return from injury.

Scrum-half Frank Murphy, who played his first minutes of senior rugby in over a year last weekend, is also included.

Commenting on the team selection and the upcoming game, Lam said: "We know winning at this level comes down to fine margins which has been frustrating for all of us so far this season. But we are determined to capitalise on every opportunity we create to give us a chance of a much needed win here.

"This season Edinburgh have proven a strong side who are tough to beat at home. They've won their last three games at Murrayfield, including an excellent Heineken Cup win over Munster.

"Our squad has been boosted by the return of Robbie (Henshaw) and Eoin (McKeon) while John (Muldoon) passed a late fitness test which sees him named on the bench. We need to deliver a performance that gives us every chance of getting the result."

Connacht: Robbie Henshaw, Fionn Carr, Eoin Griffin, Dave McSharry, Matt Healy, Dan Parks, Kieran Marmion, Ronan Loughney, Sean Henry, Nathan White, Mick Kearney, Craig Clarke (c), Aly Muldowney, Jake Heenan, Eoin McKeon.

Replacements: Jason Harris-Wright, Denis Buckley, Rodney Ah You, Michael Swift, John Muldoon, Frank Murphy, Craig Ronaldson, Gavin Duffy.

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