Rugby News

Conor Murray in Munster rugby team to play Stormers as he edges closer to 200th appearance

October 18, 2024

THE Munster team has been named for Saturday’s URC round five clash against DHL Stormers in Cape Town.

There are five personnel changes and one positional switch to the side that faced Leinster last week.

Conor Murray, Shane Daly, John Ryan, Tom Ahern and Alex Kendellen all come into the starting line-up with Jack O’Donoghue shifting from flanker to no 8.

On the injury front, Craig Casey was unavailable due to a knock.

Daly returns from an elbow injury to start on the left wing with Mike Haley at full-back and Calvin Nash on the right wing.

Murray starts with Jack Crowley in the half-backs on his 197th Munster appearance as Alex Nankivell and Tom Farrell continue their centre partnership.

Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell and Ryan pack down in the front row with Jean Kleyn and captain Tadhg Beirne in the engine room.

Ahern and Kendellen join Jack O’Donoghue in the back row for their first starts of the season. Ahern returned from an ankle injury last week with Kendellen captaining Emerging Ireland on their recent tour to South Africa.

Academy players Kieran Ryan and Ruadhán Quinn are among the replacements with Billy Burns also included on his return from a shoulder injury.

Hooker Eoghan Clarke, Kieran Ryan and Stephen Archer provide the front row back-up with Clarke in line for his first appearance of the season.

Fineen Wycherley and Quinn complete the forward cover.

Ethan Coughlan, Burns and Seán O’Brien are the backline replacements with Coughlan in line for his first Munster appearance of the season having toured with Emerging Ireland.

MUNSTER: Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Shane Daly; Jack Crowley, Conor Murray; Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, John Ryan; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne; Tom Ahern, Alex Kendellen, Jack O’Donoghue. Replacements: Eoghan Clarke, Kieran Ryan, Stephen Archer, Fineen Wycherley, Ruadhán Quinn, Ethan Coughlan, Billy Burns, Seán O’Brien.

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