Search
08 Sept 2025
Search
08 Sept 2025
Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content.
Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist.
If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter .
Support our mission and join our community now.
To continue reading this article, you can subscribe for as little as €0.50 per week which will also give you access to all of our premium content and archived articles!
Alternatively, you can pay €0.50 per article, capped at €1 per day.
Thank you for supporting Ireland's best local journalism!
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.
Hooker Diarmuid Barron is among the replacements alongside three Academy players 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.
Diarmuid Barron, Academy prop Kieran Ryan and John Ryan provide the front row back-up. Shannon’s Kieran Ryan is in line for his fourth senior appearance.
Tom Ahern is included among the replacements after recovering from an ankle injury sustained against Ulster in June.
Academy flanker Ruadhán Quinn is also included among the replacements after completing the return to play protocols.
Conor Murray, Tony Butler and Academy winger Shay McCarthy are the backline replacements.
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.
Subscribe or register today to discover more from DonegalLive.ie
Buy the e-paper of the Donegal Democrat, Donegal People's Press, Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles.
Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm.
This publication supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice of the Press Council. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at www.presscouncil.ie, Lo-call 1800 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie.
