Dec 13,2024
Munster have made six changes to their side to take on Castres in the Champions Cup, with Dave Kilcoyne and Oli Jager back in the squad following injury lay-offs.
Ian Costello has brought in captain Tadhg Beirne, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer, John Hodnett, Brian Gleeson and Mike Haley to refresh the side following their 33-7 round-one win over Stade Francais.
Scannell and Archer both come into the front-row where they will be joined by Dian Bleuler for Friday night's Pool 3 clash at Stade Pierre-Fabre (8pm Irish time).
Fineen Wycherley starts again in the second-row with Beirne coming in to start after his appearance from the bench last Saturday.
Peter O'Mahony retains his place at blindside flanker with both Hodnett and Gleeson coming into the side to complete the back-row.
There is just one change to the backline with Haley coming in to start at full-back as Calvin Nash and Thaakir Abrahams start again on the wings.
The centres remain unchanged with Alex Nankivell and Tom Farrell continuing their partnership while Craig Casey and Jack Crowley are the half-back pairing once again.
Among the replacements, Ireland prop Kilcoyne makes his first appearance in just under a year to take his place on the bench alongside Jager, whose last match was against the Ospreys at the beginning of October.
The duo are joined by Diarmuid Barron to form the front-row replacements.
Tom Ahern, Alex Kendellen and Jack O’Donoghue complete the forward cover in a 6:2 bench split with Paddy Patterson and Rory Scannell providing the backs cover.
Castres, beaten 38-8 at Northampton last weekend, include former Connacht forward Abraham Papalii at number 8, and are coached by former Ireland international Jeremy Davidson..
Castres: Julien Dumora; Geoffrey Palis, Jack Goodhue, Andrea Cocagi, Rémy Baget; Louis le Brun, Jeremy Fernandez; Quentin Walcker, Gaetan Barlot, Will Collier; Gauthier Maravat, Leone Nakarawa; Mathieu Babillot (capt), Tyler Ardron, Abraham Papalii.
Replacements: Loris Zarantonello, Wayan de Benedittis, Nicolas Corato, Paul Jedrasiak, Feibyan Tukino,
Santiago Arata Perrone, Theo Chabouni, Adrien Seguret.
Munster: Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Thaakir Abrahams; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Dian Bleuler, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; Fineen Wycherley, Tadhg Beirne (capt); Peter O'Mahony, John Hodnett, Brian Gleeson.
Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Dave Kilcoyne, Oli Jager, Tom Ahern, Alex Kendellen, Paddy Patterson, Rory Scannell, Jack O’Donoghue.
