Ciaran Frawley gets his big chance at No 10 against Munster, Nankivell in for Croker clash
For Coach Arrives Academy With Brady Training O’donnell Alex Pic: Tommy Nankivell Inpho/ben
Alex Nankivell returns from injury to bolster Munster’s midfield for Saturday’s record-breaking sell-out URC derby clash with Leinster at Croke Park.
With key forwards Oli Jager and Peter O’Mahony ruled out following injuries sustained in last Saturday’s 23-0 win over Ospreys in Cork, there are enforced changes in the front and back rows, record appearance maker Stephen Archer coming in for Jager at tighthead prop while Jack O’Donoghue moves from No.8 to take over from the former captain at blindside flanker as Gavin Coombes comes off the bench to start at the back of the scrum.
Munster, looking for a first win over their neighbours since the 2022-23 semi-final victory at Aviva Stadium 17 months ago, make four changes and one positional switch from the starting line-up which claimed an impressive bonus-point win over Ospreys.
In addition to the forward pack changes, a fit-again Nankivell returns from a shoulder injury having missed the last two games following a Player of the Match performance against Connacht in the season opener and partners Tom Farrell in the centres while Seán O’Brien starts on the left wing after returning from the Emerging Ireland tour to South Africa earlier in the week. Mike Haley has overcome the leg contusion that forced him out during the second half at Virgin Media Park last Saturday and holds onto the full-back berth in a back three with Calvin Nash and O’Brien, who replaces Shay McCarthy, the opening try scorer against the Ospreys.
McCarthy drops to the bench and joins two fellow academy players in prop Kieran Ryan and flanker Ruadhán Quinn, who has passed fit following a failed Head Injury Assessment in the round two loss at Zebre Parma a fortnight ago.
There is also a potential first appearance since the final round of league play last season for second row Tom Ahern as head coach Graham Rowntree reverts to a replacements mix of five forwards and three backs having selected a 6:2 split last time out, wing McCarthy joining half-backs Conor Murray and Tony Butler as the backline options off the bench.
Leinster have made three changes to their starting line-up following their successful trip to Treviso last Saturday when they claimed their third successive bonus-point win of the campaign with a 35-5 victory over Benetton.
Hooker Ronan Kelleher (ankle) and right wing Jimmy O’Brien (hamstring) were both withdrawn during the first half in Italy and have been replaced by Lee Barron and Liam Turned respectively while Leo Cullen has also made a change to his second row, bringing in Ireland lock James Ryan for Test squad mate Joe McCarthy to partner former Munster man RG Snyman in the South African double World Cup winner’s first appearance against his old club following a summer move up the M7.
Leinster have also added experience to their bench, which, like Munster’s reverts from a 6:2 split to five forwards and three backs, with back rower Max Deegan in for Brian Deeny, veteran scrum-half Luke McGrath for Fintan Gunne and the extra back berth going to a second fly-half in Harry Byrne alongside his brother Ross Byrne.
: H Keenan; L Turner, G Ringrose, J Osborne, J Lowe; C Frawley, J Gibson-Park; A Porter, L Barron, T Furlong; RG Snyman, James Ryan; J Conan, J van der Flier, C Doris – captain.
Replacements: G McCarthy, C Healy, T Clarkson, R Baird, M Deegan, L McGrath, R Byrne, H Byrne.
: M Haley; C Nash, T Farrell, A Nankivell, S O’Brien; J Crowley, C Casey; J Loughman, N Scannell, S Archer; J Kleyn, T Beirne - captain; J O’Donoghue, J Hodnett, G Coombes.
Replacements: D Barron, K Ryan, J Ryan, T Ahern, R Quinn, C Murray, T Butler, S McCarthy.
: Chris Busby (IRFU).