The province coolly dealt with another Welsh region last weekend to advance to the final, beating Ospreys 23-3 at Thomond Park.
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Now Rassie Erasmus’ squad approaches the pinnacle of Celtic rugby bolstered by three British & Irish Lions: Peter O’Mahony, CJ Stander and Conor Murray.
CONOR HITS A HUNDRED
Conor Murray will make his 100th appearance in a Munster shirt after returning from a shoulder injury to play Connacht three weeks ago.
Erasmus must be grateful for the return of the talented scrum half, who will hope to earn yet more Lions caps this summer having playing fi Lions against Australia in 2013.
This weekend, though, Murray’s focus will be closer to home as he looks to secure a winning end to the Guinness PRO12 season for Munster in Dublin.
PETER LEADS FROM THE FRONT
Peter O’Mahony has proved himself to be an extremely mature captain in what has been an emotional season for the Irish province.
Warren Gatland will cherish O’Mahony’s leadership qualities over the course of the upcoming six weeks that the Lions will spend in New Zealand.
The flanker impressed with several lineout steals to help Ireland end England’s Grand Slam hopes in Dublin earlier this year.
This time, O’Mahony finds Welsh opponents at the Aviva Stadium, but the Munster captain will be just as ruthless in the pursuit of victory.
CJ SEEKS SILVERWARE
Packing down alongside O’Mahony in the back row is CJ Stander, a versatile forward who plays at No 8 for his club but is equally impressive at flanker if needed.
An unchanged side for the #GuinnessPRO12Final #MUNvSCA https://t.co/TVZvlo0zbd pic.twitter.com/QEcuB15cBZ
— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) May 26, 2017
Stander has amazed with his ball-carrying abilities for both club and country this year, repeatedly finding holes in the opposition’s defence.
The forward has not won a trophy with Munster since he joined the club in 2012, but helped the province to the PRO12 final in 2015.
The Munstermen could not dent the Glasgow Warriors defence that day, but with Stander’s astronomic ascendance to world-class status this season his side may go one further on Saturday.
TEAMS
Munster: Simon Zebo; Andrew Conway, Francis Saili, Rory Scannell, Keith Earls; Tyler Bleyendaal, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell, John Ryan; Donnacha Ryan, Billy Holland; Peter O’Mahony (c)., Tommy O’Donnell, CJ Stander.
Replacements: Rhys Marshall, Brian Scott, Stephen Archer, Jean Deysel, Jack O’Donoghue, Duncan Williams, Ian Keatley, Jaco Taute.
Scarlets: Johnny Mcnicholl, Liam Williams, Jonathan Davies, Scott Williams, Steff Evans, Rhys Patchell, Gareth Davies, Rob Evans, Ryan Elias, Samson Lee, Lewis Rawlins, Tadhg Beirne, Aaron Shingler, James Davies, John Barclay (c)
Replacements: Emyr Phillips, Wyn Jones, Werner Kruger, David Bulbring, Will Boyde, Jonathan Evans, Hadleigh Parkes, DTH van der Merwe
