Captain Tadgh Beirne and the fellow Ireland contingent also return to bolster Munster’s squad
Interim Head Coach Ian Costello has welcomed back a host of star names for Saturday’s marquee United Rugby Championship clash with Connacht in Castlebar.
Among the changes are returns from injury for Craig Casey, Oli Jager, and Jean Kleyn, while a quartet of Irish internationals return after Six Nations duty.
In total, there are five changes from the side narrowly lost to Glasgow last time out, with 3 of those in the backline. Ben O’Connor is once again retained at full-back and is partnered this time by former Connacht man Seán O’Brien and the returning Calvin Nash. The playmaking duo of Tom Farrell and Alex Nankivell are retained in midfield.
The big news of the week is the return of the dynamic half-back tandem of Jack Crowley and Craig Casey. It is Casey’s first start for Munster since suffering a meniscus injury away in Castres last December, but his return is timely given Munster’s blockbuster month of fixtures.
Another fit-again returnee Oli Jager is the sole change to the front row as he replaces Stephen Archer who drops to the bench. Jeremy Loughman and Diarmuid Barron once again start, as does Fineen Wycherley who is now partnered by Tadhg Beirne in the engine room. That move allows Tom Ahern to revert to the blindside flank, with Alex Kendellen in reserve.
Munster have elected for a 6/2 bench split with Jean Kleyn and Ruadhán Quinn adding extra power to the subs. Conor Murray is also back in the squad, and is set to win his 200th cap for the province should he come on.
The home side of Connacht are also looking for a big response following a rollercoaster defeat to the Ospreys last Saturday by 43-40. Bundee Aki, Finlay Bealham and Mack Hansen all return to start with Sean Jansen and Chay Mullins promoted also.
Munster come into this game inside the top eight in the URC table, knowing a victory tees them up nicely for the home straight where they have three home games in their final four fixtures. However, with just eight points separating 5th and 15th; it’s a logjam of epic proportions, and every point counts.
Kickoff in this one is at 2:30pm in Hastings Insurance McHale Park with live coverage on TG4, Premier Sports and URC TV.
MUNSTER: Ben O’Connor; Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Seán O’Brien, Jack Crowley, Craig Casey. Josh Wycherley, Diarmuid Barron, Oli Jager; Fineen Wycherley, Tadhg Beirne (captain); Tom Ahern, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Niall Scannell, Josh Wycherley, Stephen Archer, Jean Kleyn, Ruadhán Quinn, Conor Murray, Rory Scannell, Alex Kendellen.
CONNACHT: Mack Hansen, Chay Mullins, Hugh Gavin, Bundee Aki, Finn Treacy; Josh Ioane, Caolin Blade. Jordan Duggan, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham; Joe Joyce, Darragh Murray; Cian Prendergast (captain), Shamus Hurley-Langton, Sean Jansen.
Replacements: Dylan Tierney-Martin, Denis Buckley, Jack Aungier, Josh Murphy, Paul Boyle, Matthew Devine, JJ Hanrahan, Santiago Cordero.
Referee: Craig Evans (WRU)
ARs: Andrew Cole & Padraic Reidy (IRFU)
TMO: Colin Stanley (IRFU)