ANDREW CONWAY RETURNS to action for Munster for the first time since June 2022 after recovering from a knee injury as the province face the Sharks in their URC opener at Thomond Park tomorrow (KO: 5.15pm, TG4 and Premier Sports 1).
Academy scrum-half Ethan Coughlan makes his first start for Munster and is one of five academy players included in the match-day 23: Edwin Edogbo also starts with Kieran Ryan, Brian Gleeson and Shay McCarthy in line for their senior debuts off the bench.
Andrew Conway is set for his 150th Munster appearance. Josh Wycherley will make his 50th Munster appearance in the front row with new signing Alex Nankivell among the replacements after arriving from New Zealand last weekend.
📢 TEAM NEWS | Here is your Munster side to face Sharks in the season-opener at Thomond Park tomorrow evening 💪
— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) October 20, 2023
Ethan Coughlan makes his 1st start with Andrew Conway set for his 150th appearance.
Click the pic below for full details.#MUNvSHA #SUAF 🔴
Shane Daly starts at full-back with Conway and Calvin Nash on either wing.
Rory Scannell and Antoine Frisch form the midfield partnership with Coughlan and Joey Carbery in the half-backs.
Josh Wycherley, Diarmuid Barron and Stephen Archer pack down in the front row with Edogbo and Fineen Wycherley in the engine room.
Captain Jack O’Donoghue, Alex Kendellen and Gavin Coombes complete the side.
Scott Buckley, Kieran Ryan and John Ryan provide the front row back-up.
Our starting XV for the #VURC 2023/24 season opener at Thomond Park tomorrow🦈
— The Sharks (@SharksRugby) October 20, 2023
🔗: https://t.co/jHNwln5F4j#FearTheFin @vodacom #URC #MUNvSHA pic.twitter.com/SGtpj96DM9
Tom Ahern is set for his first competitive appearance in a year after a shoulder injury sidelined him for a number of months last season.
Gleeson completes the forward cover after scoring two tries against the Barbarians on his first senior appearance last month.
Neil Cronin, Nankivell and McCarthy are the backline replacements with McCarthy also among the tries on his first senior start against the Barbarians during pre-season.
Munster:
- 15. Shane Daly
- 14. Andrew Conway
- 13. Antoine Frisch
- 12. Rory Scannell
- 11. Calvin Nash
- 10. Joey Carbery
- 9. Ethan Coughlan
- 1. Josh Wycherley.
- 2. Diarmuid Barron
- 3. Stephen Archer
- 4. Edwin Edogbo
- 5. Fineen Wycherley
- 6. Jack O’Donoghue (Capt)
- 7. Alex Kendellen
- 8. Gavin Coombes.
Replacements:
- 16. Scott Buckley
- 17. Kieran Ryan
- 18. John Ryan
- 19. Tom Ahern
- 20. Brian Gleeson
- 21. Neil Cronin
- 22. Alex Nankivell
- 23. Shay McCarthy.
Sharks
- 15. Boeta Chamberlai
- 14. Werner Kok
- 13. Murray Koster
- 12. Francois Venter (Capt)
- 11. Marnus Potieter
- 10. Curwin Bosch
- 9. Cameron Wright
- 1. Ntuthuko Mchunu
- 2. Kerron van Vuuren
- 3. Coenie Oosthuizen
- 4. Emile van Heerden
- 5. Reniel Hugo
- 6. James Venter
- 7. Phepsi Buthelezi
- 8. George Cronje
Replacements:
- 16. Dan Jooste
- 17. Dian Bleuler
- 18. Hanro Jacobs
- 19. Vincent Tshituka
- 20. Sikhumbuzo Notshe
- 21. Zee Mkhabela
- 22. Rohan Janse van Rensburg
- 23. Aphelele Fassi
Ref: Gianluca Gnecchi
