Crowley Returns For Munster’s Crunch Clash With Lions

Ireland international Jack Crowley comes in as one of five changes to the Munster team for Saturday’s BKT United Rugby Championship final round showdown with the Fidelity SecureDrive Lions at Thomond Park (kick-off 7.45pm – tickets are available buy here).

It is a vital fixture for Munster who are sixth in the table, just two points behind the fifth-placed Lions, and who have lost just twice at Thomond Park in the URC this season, to the DHL Stormers in November and Leinster in December.

The winners in Limerick on Saturday night will book their place in the league play-offs, but both sides could qualify for the top eight defending on results elsewhere.

Craig Casey will captain Munster at Thomond Park for the first time, pairing up at half-back with Jack Crowley who has recovered from a leg injury. Regular captain Tadhg Beirne remains sidelined after injurying his knee against Ulster recently.

Retiring front rowers Niall Scannell and John Ryan are included in the matchday squad for what could be their final appearances on home soil.

The duo are hanging up their boots at the end of the season after making huge contributions to the province. Scannell has made 210 appearances for Munster and lined out 20 times for Ireland, with Ryan playing 256 games for his home province, and also earning 24 Ireland caps.

Joining Casey and Crowley in the back-line are Seán O’Brien, who scored a try on his last start against the Vodacom Bulls in March. His inclusion sees Andrew Smith switch to the right wing, with Mike Haley continuing at full-back.

Alex Nankivell and Dan Kelly combine in the centre for the second game running, and hooker Scannell, who recently turned 34, will pack down with Jeremy Loughman and Michael Ala’alatoa either side of him.

Scannell takes over from Diarmuid Barron, who will provide back-up from the bench after he was cleared to play. His red card from last Saturday’s 26-7 derby defeat to Connacht in Galway was overturned by an independent disciplinary committee.

Tom Ahern reverts to the second row where Fineen Wycherley starts again following his return from a knee injury last week. A refreshed back row sees Jack O’Donoghue and Brian Gleeson earn starts alongside John Hodnett, the scorer of four tries against Ulster in his last outing in Limerick.

Head coach Clayton McMillan has opted for a six-two split on the bench, with the forward cover provided by Ryan, Diarmuid Barron, Josh Wycherley, Evan O’Connell, Gavin Coombes, and Alex Kendellen, Munster’s joint-top try scorer in the URC with five alongside Hodnett.

Academy scrum half Ben O’Donovan, set for his fifth appearance, and JJ Hanrahan are the replacement backs, and it will likely take a full squad effort from the Reds as they are without a win in their last five Championship matches against South African opposition.

“We came in on Monday and drew a new line in the sand for what we knew was coming this week against the Lions,” McMillan said of Munster’s build-up to the final round of the URC’s regular season.

“A quality rugby team, one that’s had a great run over the last two to three months and is coming into the back end of the season with a bit of momentum, albeit with a hiccup against Leinster (last week).

“We don’t have any option but to generate good energy in the group and put out a performance everybody can be proud of.”

MUNSTER (v Fidelity SecureDrive Lions): Mike Haley; Andrew Smith, Alex Nankivell, Dan Kelly, Seán O’Brien; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey (capt); Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, Michael Ala’alatoa, Tom Ahern, Fineen Wycherley, Jack O’Donoghue, John Hodnett, Brian Gleeson.

Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Josh Wycherley, John Ryan, Evan O’Connell, Gavin Coombes, Ben O’Donovan, JJ Hanrahan, Alex Kendellen.