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Jack Crowley returns for Munster alongside ex-Leinster star who makes first start
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Jack Crowley is back in the Munster team as the province look to reset their Investec Champions Cup campaign against Gloucester at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday evening.
Crowley missed the pasting Munter suffered against Bath last weekend due to injury, a sobering 40-14 opening defeat to their European programme at a soggy Rec.
The Ireland star is recalled at fly-half is one of nine personnel changes as they seek a response in front of a 40,000 crowd at the redeveloped Cork GAA venue. The record for a home Munster Champions Cup attendance is expected to be beaten.
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Crowley slots straight back into a familiar half-back pairing with Craig Casey.
There are also three positional switches. Shane Daly moves to the wing, Dan Kelly shifts out to outside centre and captain Tadhg Beirne returns to the second row.
The backline sees Mike Haley start at full-back, with Daly and academy product Ben O’Connor on the wings. Alex Nankivell and Kelly link up in midfield.
Up front, former Leinster prop Michael Ala’alatoa is handed his first Munster start in a reshaped front row alongside Michael Milne and Niall Scannell.
The Samoan captain arrived from Clermont in November on a seven-month deal running to the end of the 2025/26 season. Now 34, Ala’alatoa is back in Irish rugby after making 62 appearances for Leinster.
Springbok lock Jean Kleyn partners Beirne in the engine room, with Tom Ahern, Jack O’Donoghue and Gavin Coombes completing a familiar back row.
There is also a nod to the future on the bench, where Young Munster tighthead Conor Bartley is named among the replacements and is poised for his Champions Cup debut after impressing in the AIL last season.
Munster Rugby: Mike Haley; Shane Daly, Dan Kelly, Alex Nankivell, Ben O’Connor; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Michael Milne, Niall Scannell, Michael Ala’alatoa; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne (C); Tom Ahern, Jack O’Donoghue, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Josh Wycherley, Conor Bartley, Edwin Edogbo, Ruadhán Quinn, Paddy Patterson, JJ Hanrahan, Tom Farrell.
