Injury-hit Munster name depleted side for sellout Irish derby

Munster have been forced into a reshuffle for Saturday’s sellout URC derby against Connacht at Dexcom Stadium, with a lengthy injury list ruling out several frontline names.

There are five changes from the side that beat Ulster, with Mike Haley returning from a groin injury at full-back and Dan Kelly drafted into the backline. Fineen Wycherley is back from a knee issue to start, while Michael Ala’alatoa and Edwin Edogbo also come into the pack.

Munster are without a host of key figures, including Michael Milne (calf), Oli Jager (head), Tadhg Beirne (knee), Jean Kleyn (bicep), Tom Farrell (shoulder), Calvin Nash (hamstring) and Jack Crowley (leg), in a significant blow ahead of the derby.

Munster’s back three sees Haley joined by Shane Daly and Andrew Smith, with Kelly paired alongside Alex Nankivell in midfield. Captain Craig Casey continues at scrum-half with JJ Hanrahan outside him.

Up front, Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron and Ala’alatoa form the front row, with Edogbo and Wycherley locking out. Tom Ahern, John Hodnett and Gavin Coombes are retained as an unchanged back row.

United Rugby Championship

P

W

L

D

PF

PA

PD

BP T

BP-7

BP

Total

1

Stormers

16

12

4

0

56

2

Glasgow

16

11

5

0

55

3

Lions

16

10

5

1

53

4

Leinster

16

10

6

0

53

5

Munster

16

10

6

0

51

6

Cardiff Rugby

16

10

6

0

50

7

Bulls

16

10

6

0

49

8

Ulster

16

9

7

0

47

9

Connacht

16

8

8

0

44

10

Sharks

16

6

9

1

36

11

Ospreys

16

6

8

2

35

12

Edinburgh

16

6

10

0

33

13

Benetton

16

6

8

2

33

14

Dragons RFC

16

3

10

3

25

15

Scarlets

16

4

11

1

24

16

Zebre

16

2

14

0

15

There is a milestone off the bench, where Alex Kendellen is set to make his 100th appearance aged just 25.

Munster skills and attack coach Mossy Lawler said: “The quality of player we’re missing, they are obviously big losses. But where there’s injuries, there’s opportunities and loads of lads are chomping at the bit to get in this week and play a massive inter-pro game.

“From our DNA and the way we’re looking to play the game, we probably won’t change much in relation to what we’re about.”

“The big thing with Connacht is their contact skills and the physical presence they bring. So, from our physical point of view and our mentality point of view, we need to be able to match that. We have a big game ahead of us, a massive game.”

Munster Rugby: Mike Haley; Shane Daly, Alex Nankivell, Dan Kelly, Andrew Smith; JJ Hanrahan, Craig Casey (C); Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron, Michael Ala’alatoa; Edwin Edogbo, Fineen Wycherley; Tom Ahern, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes

Replacements: Lee Barron, Josh Wycherley, Conor Bartley, Jack O’Donoghue, Brian Gleeson, Ben O’Donovan, Seán O’Brien, Alex Kendellen.