CONOR MURRAY IS set to make his long-awaited return after being named on the bench for Munster’s trip to Zebre this Sunday [KO 3.30pm, eir Sport].
The Ireland scrum-half hasn’t featured at all for province or country since the tour of Australia this summer, citing a neck injury for keeping him on the sidelines.
The 29-year-old had been expected to play some part in this weekend’s trip to the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi after taking part in full training this week.
Chris Farrell will also be a welcome return for Johann van Graan’s side as he puts his 10-month injury nightmare behind him. Farrell sustained a knee injury whilst on Ireland duty during their Grand Slam winning Six Nations campaign.
He is named on the bench alongside Murray and Conor Oliver.
Tyler Bleyendaal will retain the captaincy at inside centre this weekend as van Graan makes a number of changes to the side which beat the Cheetahs 30-26 in South Africa at the start of the month.
Mike Haley retains his spot at full-back, while Ronan O’Mahony makes his first appearance of the season on the right wing, with Alex Wootton lining out on the opposite flank.
Rory Scannell joins Bleyendaal to complete the centre pairing, while Neil Cronin and JJ Hanrahan line up as the half-backs.
In the pack, Jeremy Loughman, Kevin O’Byrne and Stephen Archer make up the front row as Fineen Wycherley and Darren O’Shea partner in the second row.
Gavin Coombes makes his first start in the Guinness Pro14 alongside Chris Cloete and Arno Botha in the back row.
Munster go in search of a fourth win in their last five league outings against the Italians this weekend. Zebre, meanwhile, have only lost one of their last seven home games in all tournaments.
Munster
15. Mike Haley
14. Ronan O’Mahony
13. Rory Scannell
12. Tyler Bleyendaal
11. Alex Wootton
10. JJ Hanrahan
9. Neil Cronin
1. Jeremy Loughman
2. Kevin O’Byrne
3. Stephen Archer
4. Fineen Wycherley
5. Darren O’Shea
6. Gavin Coombes
7. Chris Cloete
8. Arno Botha
Replacements:
16. Mike Sherry
17. Brian Scott
18. Ciaran Parker
19. Sean O’Connor
20. Conor Oliver
21. Conor Murray
22. Bill Johnston
23. Chris Farrell
Won’t impact them really. Those are not huge losses. Munster v Wasps– now that was a squad decimated by COVID.
Serious chance here lads
@whoowhat?: you mean there’s a chance……
@whoowhat?: Eden Park, that would be historic altogether.
@Keith McCarthy: in llyod christmas’s world maybe
@daveyt: so you’re telling me there’s a chance ?
@Sean McCarthy: too right mate, put a few shrimp on the barbie ;)
What do people make of those billboards they’ve put up anywhere the Irish team are due to go? Stinks of desperation if you ask me. Are the NZ team embarrassed by them or are they lacking confidence that they take solice in them? If anything they’re going to fuel the fire in the Irish camp, probably exactly what we need after Ulster and Leinster feeling a bit dejected after the URC exits.
@SPQH: billboards?
@SPQH: take it as a compliment and a laugh, Irish bookmakers have done same, but much witter and better. Its really a non story
@SPQH: A Kiwi gambling company TAB NZ behind this.
Good luck to them provoking Paddy Power’s social media team!
@Paul Kennedy: wittier*
@SPQH: i don’t think they matter much, if it generates a bit of rivalry and sells more tickets fair play, maybe is a compliment that NZ fans are taking Ireland seriously.
@Paul Kennedy: OK fair enough, didn’t realise it was a bookmakers that was behind it.
@Doug Storms: Yeah, 3 outside Missouri.
Ireland can give back the players they robbed from new Zealand
@Tony Mcgrath: and then New Zealand can give back all the players they robbed from Tonga, somoa etc it works both ways
@Sole Trader: Australia & Scotland too.
@Tony Mcgrath: Ah c’mon. You can be more creative than “robbed”. Put some effort in man.
@Tony Mcgrath: robbed? Like what they did to Isa?
Getting Joe Schmidt on board reeks of desperation from Foster I think .
@Macus Mc Mahon: more like Feeks
All Blacks obviously taking a leaf out of the Tyrone playbook. Ireland beware .