Munster prepare for historic Pairc ui Chaoimh clash

Anticipation is building ahead of tomorrow night's historic game at Páirc uí Chaoimh.

Munster take on a South Africa selection, with 14 capped Springboks in the visiting side.

Munster named their side today and there are seven changes to the side that faced Ulster at Thomond Park last time out.

Head coach Graham Rowntree confirmed they won't be training at the Páirc ahead of the game, as he wants it to be a special moment for his team when they run out on to the pitch for the first time - and says the supporters and in for a great night too."

"They [Munster fans] have waited it for a long time. You can see by how quickly it was sold out. You know as I said before we're spoiled with our funds, our support base, how quickly they sold that out and grab those tickets shows how important it is to this  province.

"We won't train there until we actually play there. I want it to be special moment. The lads are going to feel it right from the warm up. Obviously our kickers will go earlier and they get a bit of a bit of kicking on under the  lights and, there's obviously a different feel dimension to it a different feel. The rest of the guys will see it in the warmup."

Speaking to RedFM Sport at the announcement of Pinergy as the official presenting partner to the game, Munster legend Billy Holland says it is going to be an amazing occaision in the Páirc.

"I'm really, really excited for this game. It's going to be a special occasion, particularly for the people of Cork who've been up and down the road to Thomond Park for years.

"It's great that this has finally happened in Páirc uí Choaimh, to have the defending world champions, Rassie Erasmus, Jacques Nienaber and Felix Jones coming to play in the Páirc against Munster, you couldn't really script it."

Cork hurling legend Diarmuid O'Sullivan was also on hand at the Pinergy announcement, and says it's about time Munster played at the famous Pairc ui Choaimh.

"On a Thursday night in Novemeber to have a 42,000 sellout just shows you the attractiveness of the occasion and the attractiveness  that sport and sport in general have, you know, brings to Cork people.

"For too long as I said, we've been kind of going up the road to Thomond to look at these games. So it's absolutely wonderful to actually only travel 15-20 minutes up the road to watch it.

"If anything, this is an opportunity for the GAA to showcase the status they have, like we're so lucky that an amateur association can produce stadia like this to this standard and an opportunity to highlight it when they can should always be taken."

Munster: Mike Haley; Shane Daly, Antoine Frisch, Rory Scannell, Simon Zebo; Ben Healy, Paddy Patterson; Josh Wycherley, Diarmuid Barron, Roman Salanoa; Edwin Edogbo, Kiran McDonald; Jack O’Donoghue (C), John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Niall Scannell, Liam O’Connor, Keynan Knox, Cian Hurley, Alex Kendellen, Neil Cronin, Patrick Campbell, Malakai Fekitoa.

South Africa XV: Aphelele Fassi (Sharks); Suleiman Hartzenberg (Stormers), Henco van Wyk (Lions), Cornal Hendricks (Bulls), Leolin Zas (Stormers); Johan Goosen (Bulls), Herschel Jantjies (Stormers); Ntuthuko Mchunu (Sharks), Joseph Dweba (Stormers), Thomas du Toit (C) (Sharks); Jason Jenkins (Leinster); Ruan Nortje (Bulls); Phepsi Buthelezi (Sharks), Elrigh Louw (Bulls), Jean-Luc du Preez (Sale Sharks).

Meanwhile Gardai in Cork City have issued advice for those attending the game in Páirc uí Chaoimh tomorrow.