Sport

Munster and Connacht name side for URC opening clash

Munster have named their team for the United Rugby Championship opener against Connacht at Thomond Park. Here is the team:

Munster:

Craig Casey starts at scrum-half alongside Billy Burns at fly-half.

Mike Haley starts at full-back, with Thaakir Abrahams and Shane Daly on the wings.

Tom Farrell takes up midfield duties alongside Alex Nankivell, completing the backline.

In the front row, Diarmuid Barron captains the side. He starts alongside Jeremy Loughman and John Ryan.

Jean Kleyn and Fineen Wycherley provide cover in the second row.

Ruadhán Quinn, John Hodnett, and Gavin Coombes complete the starting side in the back row.

Niall Scannell, Josh Wycherley, and Oli Jager provide the front-row back-up.

Alex Kendellen, who will captain Emerging Ireland on their upcoming tour, and Jack O’Donoghue complete the forward cover.

Ethan Coughlan, Tony Butler, and Seán O’Brien are the backline replacements, with Coughlan and O’Brien also selected in the Emerging Ireland squad.

Kick-off is at 5:30 pm.

Munster Starting XV:

Mike Haley; Thaakir Abrahams, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Shane Daly; Billy Burns, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron (C), John Ryan; Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley; Ruadhán Quinn, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Niall Scannell, Josh Wycherley, Oli Jager, Jack O’Donoghue, Alex Kendellen, Ethan Coughlan, Tony Butler, Seán O’Brien.

Team News is in! ✊

And it's the first team sheet of the 24/25 season 🤩

©️ Diarmuid Barron as captain
👊Thaakir Abrahams, Tom Farrell & Billy Burns start
🔄 Jean Kleyn is back

Join us at Thomond Park on Saturday as we face Connacht 🏟️#SUAF 🔴 | #MUNvCON | Read more 👇

— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) September 20, 2024

Connacht:

Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins has also named his matchday squad for the trip to Munster.

Santiago Cordero starts at full-back, joined by Mack Hansen and Shayne Bolton on the wings.

Piers O’Conor and Cathal Forde start in the midfield.

Josh Ioane and Ben Murphy form the half-back pairing.

In the front row, Jack Aungier starts alongside Denis Buckley and Dave Heffernan.

Joe Joyce and Darragh Murray provide second-row cover.

Cian Prendergast captains the side from the back row, alongside Conor Murphy and Conor Oliver.

Head coach Pete Wilkins commented this week:

“We can’t wait to get the season going. It was a shorter and more intense pre-season than last year, with three productive games in the last few weeks, so now it’s about delivering what I believe we’re capable of.

We’re fortunate to have over 40 players available. This has helped drive standards in training and competition for places and gives us a nice challenge in reducing the group to a matchday 23.

We know what to expect from Munster and Thomond Park, so it’s a brilliant opportunity for us to start the year on a positive note.”

Connacht Starting XV:

Santiago Cordero, Mack Hansen, Piers O’Conor, Cathal Forde, Shayne Bolton, Josh Ioan, Ben Murphy, Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan Jack Aungier, Joe Joyce, Darragh Murra, Josh Murphy, Conor Oliver, Cian Prendergast (C)

Replacements Dylan Tierney-Martin, Peter Dooley, Sam Illo, Oisín Dowling, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Caolin Blade, David Hawkshaw, Sean Jansen

Hola @santicordero15 🇦🇷🟢🦅

Santi starts at full back for tomorrow's interpro derby against Munster in Thomond Park 💪

Team news 🔗 https://t.co/YQESVNzY2K #ConnachtRugby pic.twitter.com/RJMq6KYvPW

— Connacht Rugby (@connachtrugby) September 20, 2024