Opportunity knocks for Munster prop Darragh Hurley who has been named in the province’s starting line-up for the first time this season. Hurley and company take on Edinburgh at Murrayfield on Friday night (kick-off 8pm).
Darragh Hurley’s last start for Munster was in the Magners League game against the Dragons at Rodney Parade last March and there was a subsequent appearance off the bench against Glasgow before injury put an end to his season.
The Cork Constitution clubman was on the bench for Munster’s Heineken Cup trip to Franklin’s Gardens and made a very favourable impression last Saturday at Thomond Park when he came on as 48th minute replacement for Tony Buckley.
Injuries to Buckley, Marcus Horan and Dave Ryan also provide an opportunity for Academy player Stephen Archer, who has been named on the bench for the Scottish test.
Archer also caught the eye last week in the Munster ‘A’ side’s win over Leinster at Clonmel RFC, while there is a return to the matchday squad for Felix Jones who has recovered from an ankle injury.
A hamstring strain rules Doug Howlett out so Ian Dowling, who touched down twice against Benetton Treviso, will start in the only change to the back-line from last weekend.
Up front, Frenchman Julien Bugnaut joins Hurley and Denis Fogarty in the front row and Alan Quinlan gets a well-earned break, with Niall Ronan operating from the blindside berth.
MUNSTER (v Edinburgh): Paul Warwick; Ian Dowling, Lifeimi Mafi, Jean de Villiers, Keith Earls; Ronan O’Gara, Tomas O’Leary; Darragh Hurley, Denis Fogarty, Julien Brugnaut, Donncha O’Callaghan, Paul O’Connell (capt), Niall Ronan, David Wallace, Denis Leamy.
Replacements: Damien Varley, Stephen Archer, Mick O’Driscoll, Donnacha Ryan, Peter Stringer, Denis Hurley, Felix Jones.
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