The Munster team has been named for Sunday’s United Rugby Championship clash against Scarlets in Wales (2pm).
The game is live on on URC TV (subscribe here), RTÉ, S4C, Premier Sports & SuperSport.
There are 11 changes to the Munster side that secured a bonus-point victory against the DHL Stormers as the early-season squad rotation continues.
Jack O’Donoghue captains Munster and is one of four players retained along with Calvin Nash, Shane Daly and Fineen Wycherley.
Matt Gallagher, Liam Coombes and Neil Cronin make their first appearances of the season in the backline.
Ben Healy, Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron, Stephen Archer, Thomas Ahern, Chris Cloete and Jack O’Sullivan make their first starts of the new campaign.
Gallagher starts at full-back as Nash and Daly keep their places on either flank.
Dan Goggin and Coombes partner up in the centres with Cronin and Healy in the half-backs.
Loughman, Barron and Archer pack down in the front row.
Ahern and Wycherley start in the engine room as captain O’Donoghue, Cloete and O’Sullivan complete the starting XV.
Kevin O’Byrne, Josh Wycherley, Jack Crowley, Jack Daly and Greencore Munster Rugby Academy duo Alex Kendellen and Paddy Patterson are all in line to make their season debuts off the bench.
In injury news, Jason Jenkins sustained a thigh injury in training this week and is awaiting a scan.
Rowan Osborne is also unavailable having sustained a concussion and will follow the return-to-play protocols under the supervision of the medical department.
Keynan Knox has presented with a low-grade hip injury following last week’s win over Stormers which will be managed with the medical department.
Find out all you need to know ahead of the game here. Read about the Munster Men’s team’s return to Musgrave Park here and scroll down to buy tickets for Connacht, Castres, Leinster and Ulster.
Munster: Matt Gallagher; Calvin Nash, Liam Coombes, Dan Goggin, Shane Daly; Ben Healy, Neil Cronin; Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron, Stephen Archer; Thomas Ahern, Fineen Wycherley; Jack O’Donoghue (C), Chris Cloete, Jack O’Sullivan.
Replacements: Kevin O’Byrne, Josh Wycherley, John Ryan, RG Snyman, Alex Kendellen, Paddy Patterson, Jack Crowley, Jack Daly.
Video | Press Pass
Hear from Forwards Coach Graham Rowntree and lock Fineen Wycherley ahead of the game.
Tickets
Saturday, October 16
Munster v Connacht, Thomond Park, 7.35pm; Buy tickets here now – It is the personal responsibility of all supporters to ensure they adhere to Government guidelines and adult supporters should note that proof of vaccination or recovery may be requested before entry. See full details here.
Saturday, December 18
Munster v Castres Olympique, Thomond Park, 8pm; Buy tickets here
Sunday, December 26
Munster v Leinster, Thomond Park, 7.35pm; Buy tickets here
Saturday, January 8
Munster v Ulster, Thomond Park, 7.35pm; Buy tickets here