MUNSTER HAVE been forced into two late changes to their starting XV that will take on Northampton Saints tomorrow.
The Reds have already been beaten by Northampton in the group-stage and tomorrow’s Round of 16 clash looks equally tough.
Their challenge will be even greater now as both RG Snyman and Shane have both been ruled out.
Snyman missed last week’s win over Cardiff with a virus but trained during the week and was named at second row for tomorrow’s tie.
However, he has now been ruled out again through illness and Tom Ahern comes in to replace him.
Jack O’Donoghue has been called up to take Ahern’s position on the bench.
Daly suffered a knock in training on Friday which has left him not fit enough to start against Northampton.
Sean O’Brien comes in to replace Daly but swaps to the right wing while Simon Zebo makes the switch to left wing.
Academy winger Shay McCarthy is added as back row cover.
Speaking on Wednesday, defence coach Denis Leamy had expressed his hope that two-time World Cup winner Snyman would be able to feature in the major clash.
He said: “He’s an outrageously gifted rugby player, isn’t he.
“He’s experienced, he’s a double World Cup winner.
“When he speaks, guys listen and he’s a very impressive person, a very impressive man and just his physicality and his ability on the ball, really gives you something.
“He’s a very, very good player. So, fingers crossed he makes it through the next few days.”
However, Leamy also hailed Ahern as Snyman’s replacement still brings a lot of quality to the team.
He added: “Yeah, Tom is developing very well. He’s becoming a student of the game, applying himself really well and so athletically gifted.
“I work closely with him and I think Tom understands there’s part of the game, you know, the darker parts that he just probably needs to keep growing and developing around his defensive contacts, his breakdown work.
“And then you see the ability everybody speaks about when you put him on the edges, a guy that can move that quickly at that height, his footballing ability.
“So he’s pretty freakish around that sort of stuff and it’s just trying to improve on the little bits of areas where there’s slight weaknesses and I think Tom will be…well, he’s already an amazing player, but I think Tom will be potentially a really good player for Ireland, hopefully.
“That’s the challenge for him.”