Munster given disciplinary boost for Lions to offset injury list

Munster hooker Diarmuid Barron has been cleared to play following his 20-minute red card against Connacht last week, and will start on the bench in the crucial clash with the Lions in the final round of the United Rugby Championship on Saturday evening.

The 27-year-old was yellow carded in the first half of Munster’s 26-7 loss to Connacht for a croc roll, with the offence being upgraded to a 20-minute red card after a review.

In a hearing this week, Barron accepted that he had committed an act of foul play but did not believe that the offence warranted a red card. The Independent Disciplinary Committee, comprising of Sheriff Kathrine Mackie (Chair, Scotland), Charles Samson (Scotland) and Chris Watts (Wales), agreed that an act of foul play had occurred but did not determine that it should have been upgraded to a red card.

The Ireland A international is free to play, therefore, and will take his place on the bench with retiring Ireland hooker Niall Scannell starting in what could be his last ever appearance for the province should they lose.

A defeat will mean Munster are dependent on other results going their way in order to remain in the top eight and book their place in the URC play-offs. With the match at Thomond Park being the last of the weekend, the men in red will know what is required of them when they walk out onto the pitch.

Fixture

United Rugby Championship

Munster

24 - 17

Full-time

Lions

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The side have also been boosted by the return of fly-half Jack Crowley after missing the past two matches with a leg injury.

The Ireland No.10 was touch-and-go to make the match this weekend alongside Shane Daly and lock Edwin Edogbo, who injured his shoulder against Connacht. The pair have failed to make the team, and have joined the sizeable injury list at Munster.

Munster XV: Mike Haley; Andrew Smith, Alex Nankivell, Dan Kelly, Seán O’Brien; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey (C); Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, Michael Ala’alatoa; Tom Ahern, Fineen Wycherley; Jack O’Donoghue, John Hodnett, Brian Gleeson.
Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Josh Wycherley, John Ryan, Evan O’Connell, Gavin Coombes, Ben O’Donovan, JJ Hanrahan, Alex Kendellen.