Mike Prendergast excited by fresh faces at Munster

Every new season brings change, but there have been some significant ins and outs at Munster this summer.

The departures have been more high-profile than the arrivals. Any team that loses players like RG Snyman, Antoine Frisch, Joey Carbery and Simon Zebo have major holes to fill.

Of the major arrivals into Munster this summer, three are already well-known to Irish fans, with Billy Burns coming in from Ulster, and Tom Farrell and Diarmuid Kilgallen making the short trip south from Connacht. All three got their first taste of action last Saturday when the province were beaten 24-21 by Bath in their opening pre-season friendly.

"They've been very good since coming in," assistant coach Mike Prendergast said of the trio.

"Tom Farrell and Diarmuid Kilgallen are after coming in and fitting in seamlessly.

"You look at the Irish teams and I suppose we don't play too dissimilar. Bits and pieces might change, but the framework means their understanding coming down was quite clear and our players who have already been here have been helpful with them integrating on and off the pitch.

"They were very good against Bath, I know it was the first game, but they showed very well."

Acquiring Burns from Ulster was also an important piece of business. With Ben Healy and Carbery both leaving the province in recent seasons, it left Munster light on experience behind first choice Jack Crowley, who is likely to be available less often to the province as he becomes more established in Test rugby.

"Billy is an experienced player, an international. He's been in big games, big moments up in Ulster and for me he has fitted in really well.

"I really like his skillset, he'll bring a really good attacking, short kicking game which we saw most notably against