The Munster team has been named for Saturday’s Investec Champions Cup quarter-final away to Bordeaux-Begles (3pm Irish time, live on Premier Sports).
Stephen Archer keeps his place in the replacements and is set for a landmark 300th Munster appearance. It is an incredible achievement from the tighthead prop who made his Munster debut almost 16 years ago against Edinburgh in October 2009.
Tadhg Beirne captains the side with two changes to the team that started the win over La Rochelle in France last Saturday.
Josh Wycherley starts in place of the injured Jeremy Loughman and Alex Nankivell returns after a successful appeal of his two-match ban.
Thaakir Abrahams, Calvin Nash and Andrew Smith form an unchanged back three with Nankivell and Tom Farrell in midfield. Farrell makes his 21st appearance of the season having started all 20 games so far this season.
Craig Casey and Jack Crowley, who signed a two-year contract extension this week, continue in the half-backs.
Wycherley, Diarmuid Barron and Oli Jager pack down in the front row with Jean Kleyn and captain Beirne in the engine room.
Peter O’Mahony, John Hodnett and Gavin Coombes complete the side.
Niall Scannell, Mark Donnelly, Archer, Fineen Wycherley, Tom Ahern and Alex Kendellen provide the forward cover.
Donnelly, who started in Cork Constitution’s win over Terenure College in the AIL last week, is set for his first Champions Cup appearance since the famous win over Wasps in December 2021.
Conor Murray and Seán O’Brien are the backline replacements.
Munster Rugby: Thaakir Abrahams; Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Andrew Smith; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Josh Wycherley, Diarmuid Barron, Oli Jager; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne (C); Peter O’Mahony, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Niall Scannell, Mark Donnelly, Stephen Archer, Fineen Wycherley, Tom Ahern, Conor Murray, Seán O’Brien, Alex Kendellen.
