MUNSTER HEAD COACH Johann van Graan has welcomed Andrew Conway back from injury for tomorrow’s crucial URC clash with Leinster at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin [KO 7.35pm, TG4], but captain Peter O’Mahony misses out.
Jack O’Donoghue will skipper the Munster team, which also includes Thomas Ahern, Dan Goggin, and John Ryan, while Fineen Wycherley makes a move from the second row to the back row.
O’Mahony is absent with the shoulder injury he picked up against Toulouse in the Champions Cup quarter-finals but fullback Mike Haley has been cleared to start after coming through the return-to-play protocols after a head injury in the same game.
Keith Earls moves to the left wing to accommodate Conway’s return from a knee injury – Simon Zebo was ruled out earlier this week – while Goggin replaces the injured Damian de Allende in midfield.
With Stephen Archer ruled out due to illness, Ryan comes in at tighthead prop, while 23-year-old Keynan Knox offers back-up from the bench.
Fineen Wycherley gets his first start at blindside in over a year, joining Alex Kendellen and O’Donoghue in the back row.
Munster are targeting a win in Dublin as they aim to secure a home quarter-final and a possible home semi-final too.
Meanwhile, Leinster have rested all of their front-liners ahead of next weekend’s Champions Cup final against La Rochelle in Marseille.
Leo Cullen’s side have already secured top spot in the league, meaning they will have a home quarter-final as well as a possible home semi-final and final.
Leinster have welcomed Ireland internationals Jordan Larmour and Ryan Baird back from injury for this clash, with Larmour starting at fullback in a back three that also includes academy wing Rob Russell and Rory O’Loughlin.
Ciarán Frawley and Jamie Osborne form the midfield pairing, while Harry Byrne is at out-half and Cormac Foley gets his first home start in the number nine shirt.
Ed Byrne captains the team from loosehead prop in a front row also including Seán Cronin and Thomas Clarkson, as Joe McCarthy and Josh Murphy team up in the second row.
Baird returns from injury in the back row alongside Scott Penny and Max Deegan, while scrum-half Ben Murphy – the son of Ireland U20s coach Richie – is set for his senior debut off the Leinster bench and Cian Healy is set to cover tighthead as a replacement.
Leinster:
- 15. Jordan Larmour
- 14. Rob Russell
- 13. Jamie Osborne
- 12. Ciarán Frawley
- 11. Rory O’Loughlin
- 10. Harry Byrne
- 9. Cormac Foley
- 1. Ed Byrne (captain)
- 2. Seán Cronin
- 3. Thomas Clarkson
- 4. Joe McCarthy
- 5. Josh Murphy
- 6. Ryan Baird
- 7. Scott Penny
- 8. Max Deegan
Replacements:
- 16. John McKee
- 17. Peter Dooley
- 18. Cian Healy
- 19. Devin Toner
- 20. Alex Soroka
- 21. Ben Murphy
- 22. David Hawkshaw
- 23. Adam Byrne
Munster:
- 15. Mike Haley
- 14. Andrew Conway
- 13. Chris Farrell
- 12. Dan Goggin
- 11. Keith Earls
- 10. Joey Carbery
- 9. Conor Murray
- 1. Josh Wycherley
- 2. Niall Scannell
- 3. John Ryan
- 4. Jean Kleyn
- 5. Thomas Ahern
- 6. Fineen Wycherley
- 7. Alex Kendellen
- 8. Jack O’Donoghue (captain)
Replacements:
- 16. Diarmuid Barron
- 17. Jeremy Loughman
- 18. Keynan Knox
- 19. Jason Jenkins
- 20. Jack Daly
- 21. Craig Casey
- 22. Ben Healy
- 23. Rory Scannell
Referee: Frank Murphy [IRFU].
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