Official Newsletter

Team Named Munster Side To Face Ospreys In Champions Cup

January 17, 2020 11:55 am By The Editor

Calvin Nash will make his Champions Cup debut on Sunday. Inpho

The Munster team has been named for Sunday’s Heineken Champions Cup clash against Ospreys at Thomond Park (1pm).

Buy tickets from just €20 here.

Peter O’Mahony captains the side with two changes to the team that faced Racing 92 in Paris last weekend.

Calvin Nash makes his Champions Cup debut on the wing and Fineen Wycherley makes his first Champions Cup start as he returns from injury to make his 14th appearance of the season.

Dave Kilcoyne starts on his landmark 50th Champions Cup appearance. Billy Holland will play his 225th Munster game and moves up to fourth on the all-time list of appearances for the province ahead of Marcus Horan.

Greencore Munster Rugby Academy duo Jack O’Sullivan and Ben Healy are included among the replacements and are in line to make their Champions Cup debuts. Craig Casey, who made his European debut last week, is also among the replacements.

Mike Haley starts at full-back with Andrew Conway and Nash on either flank.

Conor Murray and JJ Hanrahan are in the half-backs with a centre partnership of Rory Scannell and Chris Farrell.

Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell and Stephen Archer pack down in the front row with Wycherley and Holland in the engine room.

O’Mahony, Jack O’Donoghue and CJ Stander complete the side.

Keith Earls and Shane Daly were unavailable for selection. Earls picked up a minor knee injury and Daly sustained a thumb injury this week.

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

Munster: Mike Haley; Andrew Conway, Chris Farrell, Rory Scannell, Calvin Nash; JJ Hanrahan, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; Fineen Wycherley, Billy Holland; Peter O’Mahony (C), Jack O’Donoghue, CJ Stander.

Replacements: Kevin O’Byrne, Jeremy Loughman, John Ryan, Arno Botha, Jack O’Sullivan, Craig Casey, Ben Healy, Dan Goggin.

Video | Press Pass

Billy Holland, Dave Kilcoyne and Head Coach Johann van Graan spoke to the media this week ahead of the game, hear from the trio below.

Sign up for our

Official Newsletter

Report

Report | Five-Try Win For Munster Over Ospreys

January 19, 2020 3:43 pm By The Editor

Craig Casey celebrates scoring their fourth try with Dan Goggin. Inpho

Munster completed their Heineken Champions Cup campaign with a five-try win over Ospreys at Thomond Park on Sunday afternoon.

The tries were scored by CJ Stander (two), Stephen Archer, Man of the Match Conor Murray and Craig Casey with the young scrum-half scoring within seconds of coming on.

Calvin Nash, Ben Healy and Jack O’Sullivan made their European debuts in the clash with Fineen Wycherley making his first start in the Champions Cup.

The crowd supported Munster superbly from the off with the official attendance of 19,891 the highest attendance across all round 6 fixtures in the competition.

A late change to the starting XV saw Sammy Arnold replace Chris Farrell at outside centre.

Munster trailed 6-0 early on after a strong Ospreys start with Luke Price landing two long-range penalties for a Munster high tackle and scrum infringement respectively.

Munster hit the front for the first time just past the half hour after Sammy Arnold and Murray made the initial breaks down the right wing before Stander finished off the move. JJ Hanrahan’s conversion put Munster 7-6 in front.

Johann van Graan’s men had the momentum and scored their second try just before the break with Dan Goggin doing superbly to claim JJ’s crossfield kick and Archer eventually scoring off the base of the post. JJ converted for a 14-6 half-time lead.

It was nearly all one-way traffic in the second half and Murray stretched to score from close range for the third try after 47 minutes.

Rory Scannell looked to have scored the bonus-point try on 55 minutes but lost the ball forward as he looked to ground after Arnold sent him through.

Munster had the penalty advantage however and attacked again with Mike Haley held up over the line. From the resulting five-yard scrum, Casey scored his first Munster try with his first touch of the game as he sidestepped through for a great score.

The hosts refused to let-up with the rampaging Jack O’Donoghue leading the charge and Nash was unlucky to spill possession after an excellent chip and chase.

A yellow card for Olly Cracknell saw Ospreys reduced to 14 and Munster kept up the pressure with Stander driving over late on for the fifth try and Hanrahan added the extras.

Champions Cup Round 6 Round-Up

Calvin Nash made his Champions Cup debut and Fineen Wycherley made his first Champions Cup start.

The game was Dave Kilcoyne’s 50th Champions Cup appearance.

Greencore Munster Rugby Academy duo Jack O’Sullivan and Ben Healy made their Champions Cup debuts off the bench.

Chris Farrell was withdrawn after sustaining a knee contusion in training.

Munster: Mike Haley (Ben Healy, 68); Andrew Conway (Dan Goggin, 10), Sammy Arnold, Rory Scannell, Calvin Nash; JJ Hanrahan, Conor Murray (Craig Casey, 57); Dave Kilcoyne (Jeremy Loughman, 66), Niall Scannell (Kevin O’Byrne, 67), Stephen Archer (John Ryan, 53); Fineen Wycherley, Billy Holland (Arno Botha, 66); Peter O’Mahony (C) (Jack O’Sullivan, 60), Jack O’Donoghue, CJ Stander.