Top-of-the-table Munster welcome Scarlets to Thomond Park on Friday evening, looking to keep the chasing pack of Leinster and Ospreys at arm’s length in the Guinness PRO12. What’s at stake? Both Munster and Scarlets are comfortable inside the Guinness PRO12’s top-four, but with the race for the coveted semi-final spots picking up pace, neither will want to give an inch. Munster could watch the remainder of the weekend’s action safe in the knowledge that they will still be top of the standings on Monday with a victory. The Irish province have also won nine league games on the bounce, and will not be keen to surrender that record against Scarlets – who they beat 23-13 on the opening weekend of the season. The Welsh region are also enjoying a purple patch having endured a stuttering start to their campaign; they have won 11 of their last 12 league matches. But they remain only fourth in the standings and with a resurgent Ulster – whose next three games are against Italian opposition – breathing down their necks, they cannot afford to go off the boil. Team news (Munster) Rassie Erasmus makes five changes to the side that ground out a win against Ospreys last weekend, with Jack O’Donoghue (ankle) and Rory Scannell (knee) ruled out through injury. Jaco Taute has recovered from a shoulder knock to start at full-back, while academy centre Dan Goggin starts alongside Francis Saili in the centres. Stephen Archer and Dave Foley come into the front row and engine room respectively, while back row Conor Oliver makes just his second start in the Guinness PRO12 and takes on the No.8 jersey. Team news (Scarlets) Scarlets had a big boost with danger-man DTH van der Merwe recovering from a hamstring strain to start on the wing. Hooker Ryan Elias also returns to the starting XV in the only other change to the side that ran in six tries against Zebre, with scrum-half Aled Davies released from the Wales camp but starting on the bench. Talking points: Munster are arguably the hardest side to beat in the Guinness PRO12 at the moment, and Scarlets head coach Wayne Pivac is under no illusions that his side will have to combat their combativeness in Limerick. He said: “You don’t have to have a look at too many clips to see how they play the game but they’re very, very, efficient. “They play a territory game and have a strong defence. They’re a strong side and not only are they efficient in the way they play the game but they’ve also got a great fighting spirit in the squad this year. “Week in, week out they’re performing over the 80 minutes, every team is striving to do that but they’ve done it really, really well. “They’ve had some close calls but they’ve come out on the right side and that’s a sign of a well-bonded team.” Key battle: Ronan O’Mahony is Munster’s top try-scorer so far this season, but he will have his hands full defensively with Van der Merwe running right at him on Friday evening. The 30-year-old Canadian is one of the slipperiest customers in the Guinness PRO12, and having only scored three times in an injury-hit season so far he will be keen to make up for lost time. Van der Merwe has been the thorn in Munster’s side before, scoring a try for Glasgow Warriors in the Scots sensational Guinness PRO12 final victory over them back in 2015. Key stat: Munster’s attack may not be the most potent in the Guinness PRO12, but they are by far the hardest side to break down with just 21 tries conceded. Scarlets are not far behind them however on 24 (the second-fewest in the league), meaning this will be a hard-earned win for whoever emerges on top. Did you know? The Welsh Region have won away from home against an Irish province just once since November 2013, and that by a single point at Ulster a year ago. Munster Top points scorer: 96 – Tyler Bleyendaal Top try scorer: 7 – Ronan O’Mahony Scarlets Top points scorer: 91 – Rhys Patchell Top try scorer: 6 – Steffan Evans Munster: Jaco Taute, Darren Sweetnam, Francis Saili, Dan Goggin, Ronan O’Mahony, Tyler Bleyendaal, Duncan Williams, Dave Kilcoyne, Rhys Marshall, Stephen Archer, Dave Foley, Billy Holland, Dave O’Callaghan, Tommy O’Donnell, Conor Oliver. Replacements: Kevin O’Byrne, Peter McCabe, Brian Scott, Darren O’Shea, Fineen Wycherley, Abrie Griesel, Ian Keatley, Andrew Conway. Scarlets: Johnny Mcnicholl, DTH van der Merwe, Steff Hughes, Hadleigh Parkes, Tom Williams, Dan Jones, Jonathan Evans, Wyn Jones, Ryan Elias, Werner Kruger, Tom Price, Tadhg Beirne, Aaron Shingler, James Davies, Will Boyde Replacements: Dafydd Hughes, Luke Garrett, Nicky Thomas, Rynier Bernardo, Morgan Allen, Aled Davies, Aled Thomas, Ioan Nicholas Overall Guinness PRO12 head to head record: Played 27, Munster won 16, Scarlets won nine, with two games drawn. At Thomond Park, 7.35pm Live on TG4 Referee: Dan Jones (WRU, 5th competition game) Assistant Referees: Simon Rees (WRU), Jonny Erskine (IRFU) Citing Commissioner: Peter Ferguson (IRFU) TMO: Charles Samson (SRU)
