Team News | Munster Side To Face The Sharks In Durban

The Munster side has been named for Saturday’s URC round six clash against Hollywoodbets Sharks in Durban (4pm local/3pm Irish, live on TG4).

There are four personnel changes and two positional switches to the side that faced DHL Stormers as Craig Casey, Rory Scannell, Stephen Archer and John Hodnett come into the starting XV.

Casey starts at scrum-half after missing last week’s clash against Stormers in Cape Town due to a knock.

John Ryan moves from tighthead prop to loosehead and Seán O’Brien moves from inside centre to the left wing.

Three Academy players are included among the replacements – props Kieran Ryan and Ronan Foxe, and back-row forward Ruadhán Quinn.

Second year Academy player Foxe is in line for his Munster debut.

Diarmuid Barron is also included after completing the return to play protocols.

Mike Haley, Calvin Nash and O’Brien start in the back three.

Rory Scannell and Tom Farrell form the centre partnership with Casey and Jack Crowley in the half-backs.

John Ryan, Niall Scannell and Stephen Archer pack down in the front row with Jean Kleyn and captain Tadhg Beirne in the engine room.

Tom Ahern, Hodnett and Jack O’Donoghue complete the starting XV.

Barron, Kieran Ryan and Foxe provide the front row back-up with Fineen Wycherley, Quinn and Alex Kendellen completing the forward cover.

Ethan Coughlan and Billy Burns are the backline replacements.

On the injury front, Shane Daly (leg), Jeremy Loughman (knee) and Alex Nankivell (hip) were all unavailable.

Munster: Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Rory Scannell, Seán O’Brien; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; John Ryan, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne (C); Tom Ahern, John Hodnett, Jack O’Donoghue.

Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Kieran Ryan, Ronan Foxe, Fineen Wycherley, Ruadhán Quinn, Ethan Coughlan, Billy Burns, Alex Kendellen.