Munster make eight changes for visit of Dragons
Ireland U20s back row Sean Edogbo makes his senior debut for Munster
- Published
Munster have made eight personnel changes to their starting line-up for Friday's United Rugby Championship game against the Dragons at Musgrave Park as they aim to bounce back from last week's disappointing defeat by Castres which saw them eliminated from the Champions Cup after the pool stages.
Clayton McMillan's side dropped down to the Challenge Cup after the narrow two-point home loss to the French side.
Sean Edogbo, 21, is set to make his first competitive start this weekend as he is joined in a new-look back three by Ruadhán Quinn and Brian Gleeson, who recently signed a two-year contract extension.
Edogbo follows in the footsteps of his brother Edwin as the second player from Cobh Pirates to play for Munster in the professional era, with Edwin subsequently called into the Ireland squad for the Six Nations this week.
Captain Diarmuid Barron is named in the front row, joined by Jeremy Loughman and Michael Ala'alatoa, as Mike Haley, Dan Kelly, JJ Hanrahan and Ethan Coughlan all come into the back-line.
Daly moves to the wing, with Haley and Thaakir Abrahams completing the back three. Alex Nankivell and Kelly form the midfield pairing with Coughlan and Hanrahan the half-backs.
The second row partnership of Jean Kleyn and Fineen Wycherley remains unchanged.
Munster sit sixth in the URC table, level on points with neighbouring province Leinster, while Dragons, who are 13th, come into this match off the back of a win over Newcastle in the European Challenge Cup.
Lee Barron, Josh Wycherley and Oli Jager provide the front row back-up among the replacements, while 21-year-old second row Evan O'Connell is in line for his first appearance since November off the bench.
Gavin Coombes completes the back-row cover, as Paddy Patterson, who has completed the return-to-play protocols, Tony Butler and Diarmuid Kilgallen are the replacement options among the backs.
Munster Rugby: Mike Haley; Thaakir Abrahams, Dan Kelly, Alex Nankivell, Shane Daly; JJ Hanrahan, Ethan Coughlan; Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron (C), Michael Ala'alatoa; Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley; Seán Edogbo, Ruadhán Quinn, Brian Gleeson.
Replacements: Lee Barron, Josh Wycherley, Oli Jager, Evan O'Connell, Gavin Coombes, Paddy Patterson, Tony Butler, Diarmuid Kilgallen.
