Munster Side To Face Connacht

The Munster side has been named for Saturday’s URC Round 14 Interpro derby against Connacht at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park (2.30pm, live on TG4).

There are five changes to the side that faced Glasgow Warriors last week.

Captain Tadhg Beirne, Jack Crowley and Calvin Nash all start as they return from international duty.

Replacement Conor Murray is also back from Ireland camp and is set for his landmark 200^th Munster appearance. Murray will become just the 15th player to reach the landmark and has also played 125 times for Ireland and earned eight Test caps for the British & Irish Lions.

Oli Jager and Craig Casey return from injury and are named in the starting XV with Jean Kleyn and Niall Scannell also returning in the replacements.

Casey makes his first appearance since December with Kleyn in line for his first game since October.

Academy full-back Ben O’Connor, Calvin Nash and Seán O’Brien start together in the back three. 20-year-old O’Connor makes his fifth successive start with O’Brien scoring three tries in two appearances since returning from injury earlier this month.

Alex Nankivell and Tom Farrell continue their centre partnership for the third successive game with Casey and Crowley starting together in the half-backs. Farrell has started all 18 games so far this season, scoring eight tries.

Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron and Jager pack down in the front row with Fineen Wycherley and Beirne in the engine room.

Tom Ahern, John Hodnett and Gavin Coombes complete the side.

Niall Scannell, Josh Wycherley, Stephen Archer, Kleyn, Academy flanker Ruadhán Quinn and Alex Kendellen provide the forward cover.

Murray and Rory Scannell are the backline replacements.

On the injury front, Peter O’Mahony didn’t train fully this week due to a knock.

Thaakir Abrahams and Jack O’Donoghue returned to training this week and are working their way back to full fitness.

Billy Burns was unavailable due to a shoulder injury.

Munster Rugby: Ben O’Connor; Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Seán O’Brien; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron, Oli Jager; Fineen Wycherley, Tadhg Beirne (C); Tom Ahern, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Niall Scannell, Josh Wycherley, Stephen Archer, Jean Kleyn, Ruadhán Quinn, Conor Murray, Rory Scannell, Alex Kendellen.