Munster & Leinster name teams for record-breaking Croke Park Showdown
10/11/2024 06:55 AM
Croker.
Munster and Leinster have named their teams for this weekend’s record-breaking URC match in front of over 80,000 people at Croke Park.
There are four changes and one positional switch to the Munster side that secured a bonus-point win over Ospreys at Virgin Media Park last week.
Three Academy players are included among the replacements, prop Kieran Ryan, flanker Ruadhán Quinn and winger Shay McCarthy.
Fit-again Alex Nankivell returns from a shoulder injury having missed the last two games after a Player of the Match performance against Connacht in the season opener. Seán O'Brien starts on the wing after returning from Emerging Ireland's tour to South Africa earlier this week.
Munster's record appearance-holder Stephen Archer makes his first start of the season on his 286th appearance for the province. Gavin Coombes returns to the starting XV at no.8 with Jack O'Donoghue moving to blindside flanker.
Mike Haley starts at full-back with Calvin Nash and O'Brien on either wing. Nankivell and Tom Farrell start together in midfield for the second time with Craig Casey and Jack Crowley continuing their half-back partnership.
Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell and Archer pack down in the front row with Jean Kleyn and captain Tadhg Beirne in the engine room.O'Donoghue, John Hodnett and Coombes complete the side.
Munster: Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Seán O'Brien; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne (C); Jack O'Donoghue, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Kieran Ryan, John Ryan, Tom Ahern, Ruadhán Quinn, Conor Murray, Tony Butler, Shay McCarthy.
There are three changes to the Leinster starting XV from last weekend's 35-5 win over Benetton in Treviso.
James Ryan returns to the side after starting the first two rounds of the season. He will lock down with new signing RG Snyman, who joined from Munster over the summer. Lee Barron comes into the starting team, with Andrew Porter and Tadhg Furlong filling out the rest of the front row.
There are no changes to the back row from last Saturday as Caelan Doris captains the side again from the number eight position. Jack Conan retains his place after a player of the match performance in Italy, with Josh van der Flier once again named at openside flanker.
Liam Turner comes in on the wing as the only change to the backline, as James Lowe and Hugo Keenan keep their places.
Ciarán Frawley is once again named at out-half after his try-scoring exploits in Treviso, with Jamison Gibson-Park at scrum-half. Jamie Osborne continues his run of starting every game so far this season as he pairs up with Garry Ringrose in the centres.
Leinster Rugby (caps in brackets):
15. Hugo Keenan (67)
14. Liam Turner (30)
13. Garry Ringrose (126)
12. Jamie Osborne (51)
11. James Lowe (82)
10. Ciarán Frawley (90)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (144)
1. Andrew Porter (123)
2. Lee Barron (18)
3. Tadhg Furlong (148)
4. RG Snyman (1)
5. James Ryan (85)
6. Jack Conan (151)
7. Josh van der Flier (145)
8. Caelan Doris CAPTAIN (84)
Replacements:
16. Gus McCarthy (3)
17. Cian Healy (281)
18. Thomas Clarkson (44)
19. Ryan Baird (72)
20. Max Deegan (115)
21. Luke McGrath (214)
22. Ross Byrne (165)
23. Harry Byrne (69)
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