MUNSTER HAVE NAMED Tony Butler as their starting out-half for Saturday’s visit of the Dragons to Musgrave Park (5:15pm, RTÉ 2/Premier Sports 2), while new signings Seán O’Brien and Alex Nankivell will also earn their first starts for the province.
Craig Casey returns at scrum-half while Jack Crowley is named on the bench, both half-backs having recently returned from World Cup duty with Ireland.
Munster have also confirmed that Joey Carbery will undergo surgery next week on the wrist injury he sustained during Munster’s Round 2 draw with Benetton.
Academy out-half Butler has been handed the reins at 10 for Saturday’s fixture and, as a result of Carbery’s injury, should see an uptick in game-time over the coming weeks.
Butler, who hurled underage for Clare, is just one of seven academy players included in Munster’s matchday 23 to face the Dragons. Another is outside back Ben O’Connor, the former Cork hurling prodigy who starred at fullback in the Pres team that won this year’s Munster Schools Senior Cup.
O’Connor, who turned 19 in August, is set to make his Munster debut five months to the day since he won an All-Ireland U20 hurling title with Cork against Offaly in Thurles.
The former PBC student and St Finbarr’s GAA clubman also captained Cork to an All-Ireland minor title in 2021. He has been lining out for UCC in the AIL this season.
In all, Graham Rowntree has made seven changes to his Munster side who battled to a 13-13 draw in Treviso last weekend.
New signing from Exeter, Seán O’Brien, will debut on the right wing while Kiwi centre Alex Nankivell, one of two summer arrivals from the Chiefs, starts at 13.
The other, John Ryan, will make his third Munster debut in the front row.
Munster (v Dragons)
- 15. Shane Daly
- 14. Seán O’Brien
- 13. Alex Nankivell
- 12. Rory Scannell
- 11. Calvin Nash
- 10. Tony Butler
- 9. Craig Casey
- 1. Kieran Ryan
- 2. Diarmuid Barron
- 3. John Ryan
- 4. Edwin Edogbo
- 5. Tom Ahern
- 6. Jack O’Donoghue (Captain)
- 7. Alex Kendellen
- 8. Gavin Coombes
Replacements:
- 16. Scott Buckley
- 17. Mark Donnelly
- 18. Stephen Archer
- 19. Ruadhán Quinn
- 20. Brian Gleeson
- 21. Paddy Patterson
- 22. Jack Crowley
- 23. Ben O’Connor
Some serious young talent coming through at Munster, first time you can say that in about 20 years.
@Hud Hastings: Hoping to see Gleeson get a start soon. 6’4 and 116kg at just 19 is scary. Huge potential for the young lad. Can see Coombes moving to 6 in a season or two
@Frank Grimes: hour big is Quinn? You’d imagine he’d be the other starter with those two in a few years, with Hodnet, Kendelan in the mix too. Crazy exciting again
@Ciaran Kennedy: both Hodnett and Kendellan are smart operators but I just feel they’re too small for top level.
Tony butler also an underage hurler for Clare. Won a Harty with St.flannans at wing back in 2020
@Dec: he’s a savage loss to Clare hurling. Ditto O’Connor for Cork.
Munster getting a look at their second row future when one or both of their WC winners go at the end of the season. Both will be in demand at the end of their contracts. Can’t see the IRFU letting the two stay especially when talents like ahern and Edogbo are coming through. Will be interesting to see how this one plays out.
@Kevin: don’t see why not. Most sides play 3 secondrows every game so the 2 youngsters will get plenty of game time and learn from one of the best. As a leinster fan I hope both are allowed to stay.
@chris mcdonnell: no problem with them staying either. It’s an attritional position so the two Irish lads will see plenty of time. Just wonder will nucifora/humphries see it the same way. On a human level Kleyn has put down real roots marrying a Galway girl. It would be hugely unfair to not renew his deal.
@Kevin: There’s also Beirne of course. I imagine Kleyn will stay, but the last season for RG. (Well, unless there’s some combination of big money coming in to keep RG and one of the young lads being loaned out to get playing experience elsewhere)
@Kevin: well said regarding Kleyn. I think he has more than earned that from the IRFU from his commitment to rugby in Ireland. He has given his best years here.
@Kevin: hasn’t he a brother that’s a back?
Like this team, hope they can deliver. Great to finally see Quinn come through again, v lively player with huge potential. For all the talk of Frische he’s not even in match day squad. Really hope he’s not injured or some such. Coughlan has been decent but really interested to see Casey and Patterson battle it out this season.
Really exciting bench. Archer aside, those players are could be the future of munster rugby for years to come. Coupled with some youth in the starting line up and all of a sudden the pipeline looks in pretty good health.
As a leinster fan I am getting a bit worried about the backrow talent coming through at Munster. If you throw in Ahern and Crowley, they have an exciting looking team which can only be good for Ireland going forward
Jeez.. Every time Carberry gets in a good groove he breaks again. Aaaagh
Looks like Coombes will become a second row when Gleeson gets the 8 spot. I believe he could flourish there.
@Tom Reilly: are a 6 they have like 8 second row’s
@Sèan: 6 could be a good option when POM retires.
@Tom Reilly: Gonna be a big year for Coombs. Doris didn’t light up the wc like I had thought he would so the door may still be open for him, but he needs to find the form that saw him the top try scorer a few seasons back. Haven’t even considered Okoke who’s been invisible since his one decent showing last season too.
@Tom Reilly: the SA number 8 is 38 i think lets give pete 4 more years
@Thesaltyurchin: I think he got injured but may now have missed his window opportunity with the likes of Gleeson & Quinn coming through.
@Thesaltyurchin: invisible as in injured for most of last season?
@Pierce O’Hehir: Whatever you like really.