Donnelly set for 1st appearance of season as Munster name three academy forwards on bench

JOEY CARBERY WILL start at out-half for Munster in his 50th appearance for the southern province during tomorrow’s crucial URC clash away to Benetton in Treviso.

Hooker Niall Scannell leads Graham Rowntree’s side, with three academy forwards — Mark Donnelly, Cian Hurley and Ruadhán Quinn — named among the replacements.

Prop Donnelly, who came through Christians in Cork and now lines out for Limerick’s Garryowen at club level, is set for his first appearance of the season off the bench. Back-row Quinn, who became the youngest man to represent Munster in the professional era when he featured against Zebre in October, has also been named in the Ireland U20s squad for the Six Nations.

Patty Patterson starts at scrum-half while replacement nine Neil Cronin is set for his first appearance since Munster’s November victory over South Africa ‘A’ at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

As expected, the fit-again Fineen Wycherley makes his return at lock.

Mike Haley misses out after picking up an ankle injury during last weekend’s loss to Toulouse, with Shane Daly shifting to fullback and Liam Coombes brought onto the left wing.

There will be no farewell bow for John Ryan, meanwhile, who is unavailable for family reasons and will soon depart for New Zealand where he’ll represent the Chiefs in Super Rugby.

Munster (v Benetton)

• 15. Shane Daly
• 14. Calvin Nash
• 13. Antoine Frisch
• 12. Malakai Fekitoa
• 11. Liam Coombes
• 10. Joey Carbery
• 9. Paddy Patterson

• 1. Josh Wycherley
• 2. Niall Scannell (Captain)
• 3. Roman Salanoa
• 4. Jean Kleyn
• 5. Fineen Wycherley
• 6. Jack O’Sullivan
• 7. John Hodnett
• 8. Alex Kendellen

Replacements:

• 16. Diarmuid Barron
• 17. Mark Donnelly
• 18. Stephen Archer
• 19. Cian Hurley
• 20. Ruadhán Quinn
• 21. Neil Cronin
• 22. Ben Healy
• 23. Rory Scannell

Correction: An earlier version of this article said that Mark Donnelly was set to make his Munster debut, but tomorrow will be his first appearance of the 2022/23 season. He previously appeared last season.

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