Josh Wycherley and Tom Ahern among those included in the starting XV
Munster have named an experienced matchday squad for this weekend’s URC clash with the Scarlets in Thomond Park. Fit again Josh Wycherley returns from a long term injury to start and is one of three changes from the squad that defeated the Dragons in late January.
The Cork brothers Josh and Fineen Wycherley start together for just the second time this season, in a pack that is almost identical to the one that featured last time out. Josh replaces the departed Dian Bleuler and packs down at loosehead alongside Diarmuid Barron and Oli Jager.
Tom Ahern and the aforementioned Fineen Wycherley pack down together in the second row while Jack O’Donoghue, captain on the night, is once again joined by Cork duo Alex Kendellen and Gavin Coombes in the back row.
Ethan Coughlan, Billy Burns and Tom Farrell have shaken up knocks to start again in an unchanged back line. The trio are joined by Rory Scannell at centre and an in-form back three of Diarmuid Kilgallen, Shane Daly and Ben O’Connor.
Niall Scannell and Shay McCarthy return to the subs bench in place of Danny Sheahan and Evan O’Connell.
The visiting Scarlets side are bolstered by the return of a quartet of internationals for the trip to Limerick. Six Nations squad members Ellis Mee, Joe Roberts, Kemsley Mathias and Taine Plumtree all return as Dwane Peel makes five changes from the side that defeated Edinburgh last time out.
Veteran scrum-half Gareth Davies captains the side in place of the injured Josh Macleod while there are returns for Dan Davis, Ryan Elias and Sam Wainwright.
This Saturday evening matchup is a mini “six pointer” with Scarlets sitting just one point ahead of their opponent in sixth place. The Llanelli side lost their only game versus provincial opposition this year (23-24 home loss to Connacht) and have failed to win a single game outside of Wales this season.
Kickoff in this one is at 5:15pm in Thomond Park with live coverage on RTÉ 2, Premier Sports and URC TV.
MUNSTER: Ben O’Connor; Shane Daly, Tom Farrell, Rory Scannell, Diarmuid Kilgallen; Billy Burns, Ethan Coughlan. Josh Wycherley, Diarmuid Barron, Oli Jager; Tom Ahern, Fineen Wycherley; Jack O’Donoghue (captain), Alex Kendellen, Gavin Coombes
Replacements: Niall Scannell, Kieran Ryan, John Ryan, Brian Gleeson, John Hodnett, Paddy Patterson, Tony Butler, Shay McCarthy.
SCARLETS: Ioan Nicholas; Ellis Mee, Joe Roberts, Johnny Williams, Steff Evans; Ioan Lloyd, Gareth Davies (captain). Kemsley Mathias, Marnus van der Merwe, Archer Holz, Max Douglas, Sam Lousi, Taine Plumtree, Dan Davis, Vaea Fifita.
Replacements: Ryan Elias, Alec Hepburn, Sam Wainwright, Alec Craig, Jarrod Taylor, Archie Hughes, Charlie Titcombe, Macs Page.
Referee: Federico Vedovelli (FIR)
ARs: Robbie Jenkinson & Paul Haycock (IRFU)
TMO: Stefano Roscini (FIR)