The English Head Coach mutually agreed to part ways with the province on Tuesday
Munster are set for their first game post Graham Rowntree this Saturday, as they welcome the All Blacks 15 to a sold out Thomond Park.
The 5:30pm kick off signals the start of a new era for Munster Rugby – the province set to be led by Interim Head Coach Ian Costello – following Rowntree’s departure on Tuesday.
Defeat to The Sharks in the URC last time out made it three straight losses for Munster, with this weekend’s outing providing a chance to reset and regroup before returning to the competition.
While the coaching set-up will be altered this Saturday, playing options should remain the same. The province have reported no fresh injury concerns after last Saturday’s trip to Durban.
Shane Daly, Jeremy Loughman and Alex Nankivell are part of a lengthy list of players continuing to rehab from various injuries. The full list can be seen below.
Continuing to rehab: Shane Daly (leg), Jeremy Loughman (knee), Alex Nankivell (hip), Josh Wycherley (neck), Mark Donnelly (ankle), Dave Kilcoyne (ankle), Oli Jager (neck), Liam Coombes (leg), Thaakir Abrahams (thigh), Patrick Campbell (shoulder), Cian Hurley (knee), Edwin Edogbo (Achilles), Roman Salanoa (knee).
Fans will be able to meet Roman Salanoa and Dave Kilcoyne from 4:30pm-5pm in the Fanzone on Saturday, where supporters are encouraged to come along. Virgin Media will be on site with goodie bags, as well as various skill based games for fans.
Under 11 teams from Bruff RFC, Carrick-On-Suir RFC, Cashel RFC and Killorglin RFC will be providing the half-time entertainment in Thomond Park this weekend.
The visit of the All Blacks 15 XV will be exclusively live-streamed on Access Munster.
Pinergy, Munster Rugby’s official energy partner, are the presenting partners for the clash.
Munster: Mike Haley; Shay McCarthy, Tom Farrell, Rory Scannell, Diarmuid Kilgallen; Billy Burns, Ethan Coughlan; John Ryan, Diarmuid Barron (C), Stephen Archer; Fineen Wycherley, Tom Ahern; Peter O’Mahony, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Niall Scannell, Kieran Ryan, Ronan Foxe, Evan O’Connell, Ruadhán Quinn, Paddy Patterson, Tony Butler, Ben O’Connor.
New Zealand: George Bower; Brodie McAlister, George Dyer, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Fabian Holland; Oliver Haig, Du’Plessis Kirifi (C); Devan Flanders, Finlay Christie, Harry Plummer; Kini Naholo, Quinn Tupaea; AJ Lam, Chay Fihaki, Shaun Stevenson.
Replacements: Bradley Slater, Xavier Numia, Marcel Renata, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Corey Kellow, Noah Hotham, Josh Jacomb, Ruben Love.