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Team News | Munster Side To Face Benetton In Italy

January 27, 2023 11:54 am By The Editor

Niall Scannell captains Munster against Benetton on Saturday. Inpho

The Munster team has been named ahead of Saturday’s URC round 13 clash away to Benetton in Italy (2.30pm Irish time, live on TG4 & Premier Sports).

Niall Scannell will captain Munster for the second time with eight personnel changes and one positional switch to the side that were beaten in Toulouse last week.

Joey Carbery starts at out-half on his 50^th Munster appearance with replacement Ben Healy also in line to play his 50^th game for Munster.

Liam Coombes, Malakai Fekitoa and Paddy Patterson come into the backline with Josh Wycherley, Roman Salanoa, Fineen Wycherley, Jack O’Sullivan and Alex Kendellen joining the pack.

Fineen Wycherley makes his first appearance in almost four months after recovering from a shoulder injury.

Shane Daly moves to full-back in the absence of the injured Mike Haley with Calvin Nash and Coombes on either flank.

Fekitoa and Frisch start together in midfield with Patterson and Carbery in the half-backs.

Josh Wycherley, Scannell and Salanoa start in the front row with Jean Kleyn and Fineen Wycherley in the engine room.

O’Sullivan, John Hodnett and no.8 Alex Kendellen complete the starting XV.

Greencore Munster Rugby Academy forwards Mark Donnelly, Cian Hurley and Ruadhan Quinn are named among the replacements.

Prop Donnelly is set for his first appearance of the season while 19-year-old Quinn, who has been named in the Ireland U20s squad for the 6 Nations, became the province’s youngest player of the professional era against Zebre last October.

Stephen Archer, Neil Cronin and Rory Scannell all return to the squad with Cronin set for his first appearance since the win over South Africa A at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

On the injury front, Keynan Knox (knee) returned to full training this week.

In player news, John Ryan was unavailable due to family reasons.

Find out all you need to know ahead of the game here.

Munster: Shane Daly; Calvin Nash, Antoine Frisch, Malakai Fekitoa, Liam Coombes; Joey Carbery, Paddy Patterson; Josh Wycherley, Niall Scannell (C), Roman Salanoa; Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley; Jack O’Sullivan, John Hodnett, Alex Kendellen.

Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Mark Donnelly, Stephen Archer, Cian Hurley, Ruadhan Quinn, Neil Cronin, Ben Healy, Rory Scannell.

Press Pass | Benetton v Munster

URC & 6 Nations Tickets

Friday, February 10

6 Nations: Ireland U20s v France, Musgrave Park, 8pm; Buy tickets from €15 here

Friday, February 17

URC: Munster v Ospreys, Thomond Park, 7.35pm; Buy tickets from €20 here

Friday, March 3

URC: Munster v Scarlets, Musgrave Park, 7.35pm; Buy tickets from €20 here

Sunday, March 19

6 Nations: Ireland U20s v England, Musgrave Park, 5pm; Buy tickets from €15 here

Saturday, March 25

URC: Munster v Glasgow Warriors, Thomond Park, 5.15pm; Buy tickets from €20 here

Saturday, April 1

6 Nations: Ireland Women v France, Musgrave Park, 3.15pm; Buy tickets from €10 here

Saturday, April 22

6 Nations: Ireland Women v England, Musgrave Park, 2.15pm; Buy tickets from €10 here

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Report

Report | Bath v Munster Pre-Season Friendly

August 31, 2024 6:39 pm By The Editor

Gavin Coombes during the pre-season friendly against Bath at The Rec. Inpho

Munster lose to Bath in first pre-season friendly

Despite three tries in the first half from John Hodnett, Shay McCarthy and Diarmuid Barron, Bath edged Munster out with a dominant second half.

Next up for Munster is the second friendly at Virgin Media Park in Cork next Friday against Gloucester, 6^th September, 7pm. Buy tickets here.

Munster came out of the blocks quickly as a ducking and diving Shay McCarthy got close to the line, with a try coming soon after. Ethan Coughlan passed out to John Hodnett getting the first score after just six minutes. Billy Burns got his first points in a Munster shirt as he split the uprights leaving the scoreboard 7-0.

Bath returned with a try of their own just a few minutes later, after 22-year-old winger Austin Emens made the most of their 50:22, crossing over in the corner. Orlando Bailey converted to leave the score even, 7-7.

Munster went down to fourteen men after Gavin Coombes was given a yellow card, allowing the hosts to exploit the weakened Munster side. Bath’s Jasper Spandler scored an almost instantly with their conversion going wide, 12-7.

Munster’s second try from Shay McCarthy came after a lineout maul got them within a metre of the line, and despite being down a man, the winger used his footwork and pace to dive over. Billy Burns added the extras to make the score, 14-12.

Both sides came within touching distance of scoring, with Captain Diarmuid Barron getting over just before the half-time whistle for try number three. Burns’ boot converted leaving Munster in the lead at the break.

In the second half Bath came out with renewed energy, a new set of players, and dominated in possession.

They scored twice in quick succession, with tries from Jaco Coetzee and Tyler Offiah. Finn Russell uncharacteristically missed the first conversion but successfully slotted the second. Bath took the lead 24 – 21, Munster leaving twelve unanswered points.

Neither side were able to capitalise on their attacking play for the final quarter, with Bath’s strong defence making it difficult for Munster. The ball was held up on the Munster try line in the dying minutes and Bath took the win for the first pre-season friendly of the 24/25 Season.

Munster: Patrick Campbell (Mike Haley ‘50); Liam Coombes (Seán O’Brien ’63), Tom Farrell, Seán O’Brien (Bryan Fitzgerald ’51), Shay McCarthy (Diarmuid Kilgallen ’56) ; Billy Burns (Tony Butler ‘40), Ethan Coughlan (Jack Oliver ’51, Luca Cleary ‘71); Jeremy Loughman (Josh Wycherley ’49), Diarmuid Barron (Niall Scannell ’49, Max Clein ’74), John Ryan (Stephen Archer ’49, Ronan Foxe ‘74); Gavin Coombes (Yellow ’20), Fineen Wycherley (Conor Ryan ’59); Ruadhán Quinn (Jack Daly ’14), John Hodnett (Alex Kendellen ’40), Jack O’Donoghue.

Replacements: Josh Wycherley, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer, Jack Oliver, Tony Butler, Max Clein, Jack Daly, Ronan Foxe, Conor Ryan, Alex Kendellen, Luca Cleary, Mike Haley, Diarmuid Kilgallen, Scott Buckley, Bryan Fitzgerald.

Tries: John Hodnett, Shay McCarthy, Diarmuid Barron.

Cons: Billy Burns (3)

Attendance: 9603

Bath Friendly Round-up

Debuts for new signings Billy Burns, Tom Farrell Diarmuid Kilgallen and Bryan Fitzgerald.

First Academy appearances for Jack Oliver and Ronan Foxe.

First appearances for Club Players Luca Cleary and Conor Ryan.