For the upcoming United Rugby Championship quarter-final against the Ospreys on Friday evening at Thomond Park (7.35, live RTÉ 2), Graham Rowntree, Munster’s head coach, has switched up the starting lineup that defeated Ulster previously by making three alterations.
Centre Antoine Frisch, who is heading to Toulon, is back from a leg issue and is poised to make his 40th appearance for Munster. He represents the only alteration to the backs. Meanwhile, forwards John Hodnett and Gavin Coombes have been elevated to the initial team setup.
Frisch is stepping in for Rory Scannell, who has an ankle injury, while Hodnett and Coombes are taking over from Alex Kendellen and Jack O’Donoghue respectively in the backrow, both of whom are now among the reserves.
Diarmuid Barron, fully recovered from his previous injury, makes the cut over Eoghan Clarke for a spot on the bench. Tony Butler, the academy stand-off, has been enlisted in place of Joey Carbery, who has a thumb injury. This has led to Munster adjusting to a five-three split, which has seen Tom Ahern being left out.
The roster for Munster will consist of Simon Zebo, Calvin Nash, Antoine Frisch, Seán O’Brien, Shane Daly, Jack Crowley, Craig Casey, Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer, RG Snyman, Tadhg Beirne (captain), Peter O’Mahony, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes. The substitutes include Diarmuid Barron, John Ryan, Oli Jager, Jack O’Donoghue, Alex Kendellen, Conor Murray, Tony Butler, and Mike Haley.