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Team News | Munster Side To Face Stormers

November 17, 2023 11:55 am By The Editor

Jack Crowley, Calvin Nash and Alex Nankivell in action against Ulster. Inpho

The Munster team has been named for Saturday’s URC clash against Stormers at Thomond Park (5.15pm).

Match tickets are available here.

There are four changes to the side beaten by Ulster in Belfast last week.

Munster captain Peter O’Mahony and Tadhg Beirne return from international duty and go straight into the first XV with fellow Ireland international Conor Murray among the replacements.

Scott Buckley starts at hooker for the first time since his debut in 2021 and makes his 21st Munster appearance.

Academy winger Shay McCarthy starts on his third Munster appearance and is the only change to the backline.

Stephen Archer is also named among the replacements and in line to play his 268th game for Munster, equalling Donncha O’Callaghan’s record of most appearances for the province.

Shane Daly starts at full-back with Calvin Nash and McCarthy on either wing.

Craig Casey and Jack Crowley start together in the half-backs once again with Alex Nankivell and Antoine Frisch continuing their centre partnership.

Jeremy Loughman, Buckley and John Ryan start in the front row with Academy lock Edwin Edogbo and Beirne in the engine room.

O’Mahony, John Hodnett and Gavin Coombes complete the starting XV.

In the replacements, hooker Chris Moore is in line for his senior Munster debut off the bench after joining from Exeter University in 2022.

Josh Wycherley, record-equalling Archer, Tom Ahern and Alex Kendellen complete the back-up in the forwards.

Murray and Rory Scannell are the backline replacements.

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

Munster: Shane Daly; Calvin Nash, Antoine Frisch, Alex Nankivell, Shay McCarthy; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Scott Buckley, John Ryan; Edwin Edogbo, Tadhg Beirne; Peter O’Mahony (C), John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Chris Moore, Josh Wycherley, Stephen Archer, Tom Ahern, Jack O’Donoghue, Conor Murray, Rory Scannell, Alex Kendellen.

Press Pass

Hear from Defence Coach Denis Leamy and John Ryan ahead of the game.

Tickets

URC Round 5: Saturday, November 18

Munster v DHL Stormers, Thomond Park, 5.15pm; Buy tickets here

URC Round 7: Friday, December 1

Munster v Glasgow Warriors, Musgrave Park, 7.35pm; Buy tickets here

Champions Cup Round 1: Saturday, December 9

Munster Rugby v Bayonne, Thomond Park, 5.30pm; Buy tickets here

URC Round 8: Tuesday, December 26

Munster v Leinster, Thomond Park, 7.35pm; Buy tickets here

Champions Cup Round 4: Saturday, January 20

Munster Rugby v Northampton Saints, Thomond Park, 5.30pm; Buy tickets here

Saturday, February 3

Munster Rugby v Crusaders, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 5pm; Buy final tickets here

URC Round 11: Friday, March 1

Munster v Zebre Parma, Musgrave Park, 7.35pm; Buy tickets here

URC Round 13: Saturday, March 30

Munster v Cardiff Rugby, Thomond Park, 7.35pm; 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

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Report

Report | Munster Win Hard-Fought Battle

November 18, 2023 7:53 pm By The Editor

Munster got back to winning ways in the BKT United Rugby Championship when they defeated DHL Stormers 10-3 in a repeat of last season’s final.

A try just before the break from Edwin Edogbo proved to be the difference as Graham Rowntree’s men notched their third win of the campaign.

It was a landmark night for tighthead prop Stephen Archer who came on in the third quarter to equal Donnacha O’Callaghan’s record 268 appearances for Munster.

Conditions were much more testing for both sides than when they met in the Cape Town sunshine in the final in May and it developed into a tough contest in the wind and rain.

Unsurprisingly, scores were scarce in front of a crowd of 15,044 at Thomond Park but Munster took the lead after 14 minutes when Jack Crowley slotted a penalty.

They applied plenty of pressure but didn’t increase their lead until just before the break when a Crowley penalty to the corner led to an onslaught that led to three penalties in a row.

Stormers’ captain Neethling Fouche was binned and Munster pounced with the extra man, driving home for Edogbo, who scored his first ever Munster try against the Sharks on the opening weekend of the season, to get the touchdown.

Crowley added the conversion from the right to lead 10-0 at the break.

The South Africans hit back after the restart despite being down a man and got off the mark with a penalty from Sasha Feinberg-Mngomezulu after 45 minutes.

Both sides were forced to defend for long periods and both did well to prevent tries by holding the ball up over the line with Gavin Coombes particularly prominent in the home defence as they got back to winning ways.

Next up for Munster will be a trip to the Aviva Stadium next weekend to take on Leinster.

Munster: Shane Daly; Calvin Nash, Antoine Frisch, Alex Nankivell, Shay McCarthy; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey (Conor Murray, 59); Jeremy Loughman (Josh Wycherley, 48), Scott Buckley, John Ryan (Stephen Archer, 48); Edwin Edogbo (Tom Ahern, 53), Tadhg Beirne; Peter O’Mahony (Jack O’Donoghue, 41), John Hodnett (Alex Kendellen, 68), Gavin Coombes.

Not used: Chris Moore, Rory Scannell.