Munster Side To Face Castres Olympique

The Munster team has been named for Friday’s Investec Champions Cup Pool 3 Round 2 clash against Castres Olympique at Stade Pierre-Fabre (KO 8pm Irish time).

There are six changes to the starting fifteen which lined out against Stade Francais last weekend with Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer, captain Tadhg Beirne, John Hodnett, Brian Gleeson and Mike Haley all coming into the side.

Gleeson, who will be making his 11th appearance for Munster and his first of the season, starts his first match in the Investec Champions Cup.

Scannell and Archer both come into the front-row where they will be joined by Dian Bleuler. Fineen Wycherley starts again in the second-row with Beirne coming in to start after his appearance from the bench last weekend.

Peter O’Mahony retains his place at blindside flanker with both Hodnett and Gleeson coming into the side to complete the back-row.

There is just one change to the backline with Mike Haley coming in to start at full-back with Calvin Nash and Thaakir Abrahams on the wings.

The centres remain unchanged with Alex Nankivell and Tom Farrell continuing their partnership while Craig Casey and Jack Crowley are the half-back pairing once again.

Among the replacements, Dave Kilcoyne returns from a long-term injury to take his place on the bench alongside Oli Jager whose last match was against the Ospreys at the beginning of October. The duo are joined by Diarmuid Barron to form the front-row replacements.

Tom Ahern, Alex Kendellen and Jack O’Donoghue complete the forward cover with Paddy Patterson and Rory Scannell providing the backs cover.

Munster: Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Thaakir Abrahams; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Dian Bleuler, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; Fineen Wycherley, Tadhg Beirne (C); Peter O’Mahony, John Hodnett, Brian Gleeson.

Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Dave Kilcoyne, Oli Jager, Tom Ahern, Alex Kendellen, Paddy Patterson, Rory Scannell, Jack O’Donoghue.