Chris Farrell and Ultan Dillane plunged back into Pro 14 duty for provinces

Chris Farrell's release from Ireland duty has seen him named at outside-centre for Munster's Guinness Pro 14 meeting with the Scarlets at Thomond Park. 

He'll be partnered in the centre by Dan Goggin.

The return of Goggin is of five changes made by Munster head coach Johann van Graan from the side that collected a bonus-point win away to Zebre last week.

Billy Holland returns to captain the side from the second row where he's partnered by Fineen Wycherley.

Hooker Kevin O'Byrne and tighthead Stephen Archer are both restored to the front row.

Jack O'Sullivan keeps his place at number-8 and is joined in the matchday squad by fellow Academy players Diarmuid Barron and Josh Hodnett.

Munster team v Scarlets: 

15. Mike Haley; 14. Calvin Nash, 13. Chris Farrell, 12. Dan Goggin, 11. Darren Sweetnam; 10. JJ Hanrahan, 9. Craig Casey;

1. James Cronin, 2. Kevin O’Byrne, 3. Stephen Archer; 4. Fineen Wycherley, 5. Billy Holland (c); 6. Arno Botha, 7. Chris Cloete, 8. Jack O’Sullivan.

Replacements: 16. Diarmuid Barron, 17. Jeremy Loughman, 18. John Ryan, 19. Gavin Coombes, 20. John Hodnett, 21. Nick McCarthy, 22. Rory Scannell, 23. Tommy O’Donnell.

27 December 2019; Ultan Dillane of Connacht ahead of the Guinness PRO14 Round 9 match between Ulster and Connacht at the Kingspan Stadium in Belfast. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Ultane Dillane's been named in Connacht's second-row for their Guinness Pro 14 meeting with the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth on Sunday.

He's not the only Ireland international in Andy Friend's squad, with prop Dave Heffernan among the replacements.

The Connacht head coach says it's a "nice boost" to be able to call upon such experience, adding "This mini-block of three games is key for us so I believe we have named a squad that can get the job done on Sunday and finish on a high before the short break."

Friend's made six changes from the side beaten so comprehensively in Edinburgh last week, with Paddy McAllister and Dominic Robertson-McCoy both named in the front row.

Scrum-half Caolin Blade returns to the half-backs where he's partnered by Jack Carty.

While record try-scorer Matt Healy is named on the left-wing.

Connacht team v Southern Kings:

15. Tiernan O’Halloran; 14. John Porch, 13. Kyle Godwin, 12. Tom Daly, 11. Matt Healy; 10 Jack Carty, 9. Caolin Blade.

1. Paddy McAllister, 2. Shane Delahunt, 3. Dominic Robertson-McCoy; 4. Ultan Dillane, 5. Joe Maksymiw, 6. Paul Boyle, 7. Colby Fainga’a, 8. Jarrad Butler (c).

Replacements: 16. Dave Heffernan, 17. Denis Buckley, 18. Conor Kenny, 19. Eoghan Masterson, 20. Eoin McKeon, 21. Kieran Marmion, 22. Conor Fitzgerald, 23. Peter Robb.