Official Newsletter

Team News | Munster Side To Face Northampton

April 5, 2024 3:59 pm By The Editor

Jack Crowley and Gavin Coombes start for Munster against Northampton. Inpho

The Munster squad has been named for Sunday’s Investec Champions Cup Round of 16 clash away to Northampton Saints (12.30pm, live on TNT Sports & ITV).

Update: An appeal hearing took place on Friday afternoon regarding John Ryan’s suspension with the prop initially named among the replacements pending the outcome of the hearing.

The appeal panel upheld the original disciplinary decision and Ryan will be unavailable for our next three games.

Academy prop Mark Donnelly comes into the squad among the replacements and is in line for his ninth Munster appearance.

The 23-year-old Cork Constitution clubman, who will be moving up to the senior squad on a two-year contract next season, made his Champions Cup debut against Wasps in 2021 and has made eight senior appearances for Munster to date.

Tadhg Beirne captains the side with two changes to the team that beat Cardiff last week as RG Snyman recovers from an illness to start with Simon Zebo returning to the side on the wing.

It will be a proud day for Jeremy Loughman as he starts on his 100th Munster appearance just over six years since making his debut for the province.

Mike Haley starts at full-back with Zebo and Shane Daly on either wing.

The half-back and centre partnerships are unchanged as Craig Casey, Jack Crowley, Alex Nankivell and Antoine Frisch keep their places in the side.

Loughman, Niall Scannell and Stephen Archer pack down in the front row with Beirne and Snyman in the engine room.

Peter O’Mahony, John Hodnett and Gavin Coombes complete the starting XV with Coombes continuing his record of starting every game so far this season.

Eoghan Clarke, Josh Wycherley and Donnelly provide the front row back-up with Tom Ahern and Alex Kendellen completing the forward cover. Similar to Coombes, Ahern and Kendellen have also featured in all 17 competitive games so far this year.

Conor Murray, Joey Carbery and Seán O’Brien are the backline replacements.

On the injury front, Calvin Nash (leg) was unavailable.

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

Munster: Mike Haley; Simon Zebo, Antoine Frisch, Alex Nankivell, Shane Daly; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; Tadhg Beirne (C), RG Snyman; Peter O’Mahony, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Eoghan Clarke, Josh Wycherley, Mark Donnelly, Tom Ahern, Alex Kendellen, Conor Murray, Joey Carbery, Seán O’Brien.

Press Pass

Hear from Defence Coach Denis Leamy and Gavin Coombes ahead of the game.

Tickets

Guinness Women’s Six Nations Round 3: Saturday, April 13

Ireland v Wales, Virgin Media Park, 4.45pm; Buy tickets here

URC Round 16: Saturday, May 11

Munster v Connacht, Thomond Park, 5.15pm; Buy tickets here

URC Round 18: Saturday, June 1

Munster v Ulster, Thomond Park, 5.15pm; Buy tickets here

Sign up for our

Official Newsletter

Report

Report | Munster Beaten By Northampton Saints

April 7, 2024 2:58 pm By The Editor

Munster’s hopes of advancing to the quarter-finals of the Investec Champions Cup for the 20th time ended when they went down away to Northampton Saints.

It was a highly entertaining encounter between these two rivals which swung one way and then the other before Northampton Saints sealed their place in the last eight and leave Munster with just the defence of the BKT United Rugby Championship crown to play for this season.

Early Munster pressure went unrewarded as Northampton Saints defended well and kept their line intact.

The home side then countered and hit the front after ten minutes when full-back James Ramm got over and Fin Smith converted.

Munster hit back five minutes later and scored off a good lineout move with Seán O’Brien getting through the cover to score. Jack Crowley converted to make it 7-7.

Munster pushed on from there and again scored from a lineout after going to the right corner with a penalty. They worked the ball across the field and with a penalty advantage, full-back Mike Haley cut through to score, with Crowley’s conversion pushing Munster 14-7 in front.

But Northampton levelled before the break when winger Tommy Freeman scored and Smith converted to make 14-14 at the break.

Both sides had chances to edge in front after the break but it remained scoreless for the third quarter before Northampton Saints hit the front after 61 minutes when replacement winger George Hendy scored an unconverted try in the right corner.

Munster tried gamely to get back in contention but Northampton sealed the win when Hendy scored his second try seven minutes from time.

Munster: Mike Haley (Shay McCarthy 75); Seán O’Brien (Shay McCarthy 63-69 blood), Antoine Frisch, Alex Nankivell (Joey Carbery 66), Simon Zebo; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey (Conor Murray 56); Jeremy Loughman (Josh Wycherley 70), Niall Scannell (Eoghan Clarke 70), Stephen Archer; Tom Ahern, Tadhg Beirne (c); Peter O’Mahony (Alex Kendellen 56), John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes (Jack O’Donoghue 66).