Craig Casey and Rory Scannell return to start with Ronan Foxe set to debut from the bench
Munster head coach Graham Rowntree has made four personnel changes and two positional switches to his squad ahead of Saturday’s clash with the Hollywoodbets Sharks in Durban.
Coming off the back of a disappointing 34-19 loss to the DHL Stormers last weekend, Munster have been forced to reshuffle yet again following injuries to Shane Daly (leg), Alex Nankivell (hip) and Jeremy Loughman (knee).
With Loughman sidelined, veteran prop John Ryan switches from the tighthead side to loosehead, with record-cap holder Stephen Archer coming in to start. This means that young academy prop Ronan Foxe is set to win his senior debut for the province, should he come off the bench. The returning Diarmuid Barron is among the subs also.
Elsewhere in the pack, Jean Kleyn and captain Tadhg Beirne start at second row, while fit again John Hodnett returns on the openside flank. He partners Tom Ahern and Jack O’Donoghue, with Alex Kendellen now being deployed in a 6/2 bench.
In the backs Craig Casey is fit again to start, and with Conor Murray returning home for personal reasons, Ethan Coughlan will once again fill the number 21 shirt. Seán O’Brien moves from inside centre to the left wing, with Rory Scannell making his first start of the season.
Munster head into this game as underdogs, against a home side who defeated reigning champions Glasgow last weekend. The Sharks are littered with World Cup winning Springboks, most notably Ox Nche, Eben Etzebeth and Siya Kolisi amongst their fearsome pack. Former Munster second row Jason Jenkins is also among the replacements for this one.
The talented home team will be keen to secure a first every URC victory over Munster, but for the visitors they will be hoping to avoid a third straight loss in the league, and fourth in five games.
Kickoff on Saturday’s is 3pm, and it is live on TG4, Premier Sports and URC TV.
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, Stephen Archer, Fineen Wycherley, Ruadhán Quinn, Ethan Coughlan, Billy Burns, Alex Kendellen.
Hollywoodbets Sharks: Aphelele Fassi, Eduan Keyter, Lukhanyo Am, Andre Estherhuizen, Makazole Mapimpi; Jordan Hendrikse, Grant Williams; Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi, Vincent Koch; Eben Etzebeth, Emile Van Heerden; James Venter, Vincent Tshituka, Siya Kolisi.
Replacements: Fex Mbatha, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Ruan Dreyer, Jason Jenkins, Phepsi Buthelezi, Jaden Hendrikse, Siya Masuku, Francois Venter.
Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU)
AR 1: AJ Jacobs (SARU) AR 2: Stephan Geldenhuys (SARU)
TMO: Mike Adamson (SRU)