MUNSTER HAVE BEEN dealt further injury blows in the shape of captain Peter O’Mahony and out-half Joey Carbery, with Johann van Graan making eight changes to the side who were beaten by Leinster ahead of Saturday’s Heineken Champions Cup last-16 first leg versus Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park (17:30, BT Sport).
Standout eight Gavin Coombes, who was injured in last weekend’s crushing defeat at Thomond Park and was expected to miss at least the European first leg, has undergone ankle surgery and is ruled out until May.
Jack O’Donoghue will skipper Munster in place of O’Mahony, who the southern province say presented with a hamstring complaint but will be reassessed on Monday ahead of next weekend’s Champions Cup second leg. Carbery, who also started the interpro defeat to his former side Leinster, has a “a low-grade leg/knee injury” but is expected to return to full training on Monday.
Alongside blindside O’Donoghue in the back row are John Hodnett at openside and academy prospect Alex Kendellen at eight.
Ben Healy starts in Carbery’s stead at 10, with Conor Murray retaining his place at scrum-half.
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Mike Haley, Keith Earls, Simon Zebo and Jean Kleyn all return to the starting XV after recent knocks, while Van Graan has opted for a six-two split on Munster’s bench.
Craig Casey, whose impact upon his introduction against Leinster was conspicuous, backs up Murray at nine while Rory Scannell will cover the rest of the backline.
Jack O’Sullivan is the additional forward included on the bench, while lock Thomas Ahern is set to make his European debut as a replacement.
International trio Dave Kilcoyne, Tadhg Beirne and Andrew Conway had all already been ruled out of Saturday’s trip through injury.
Exeter, meanwhile, welcome Harry Williams and Sam Simmonds back into their pack, while Henry Slade’s return at 13 is the sole change to the backs from last Saturday’s English Premiership hammering of Bath.
Rob Baxter remains without injured England quartet Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ollie Devoto, Jonny Hill and Jack Nowell.
The Chiefs currently sit fourth in their league table and have won six of their last eight games since a run of four defeats in five at the turn of the year.
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O'Mahony and Carbery ruled out for Exeter trip, while Coombes undergoes ankle surgery
LAST UPDATE | 8 Apr 2022
MUNSTER HAVE BEEN dealt further injury blows in the shape of captain Peter O’Mahony and out-half Joey Carbery, with Johann van Graan making eight changes to the side who were beaten by Leinster ahead of Saturday’s Heineken Champions Cup last-16 first leg versus Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park (17:30, BT Sport).
Standout eight Gavin Coombes, who was injured in last weekend’s crushing defeat at Thomond Park and was expected to miss at least the European first leg, has undergone ankle surgery and is ruled out until May.
Jack O’Donoghue will skipper Munster in place of O’Mahony, who the southern province say presented with a hamstring complaint but will be reassessed on Monday ahead of next weekend’s Champions Cup second leg. Carbery, who also started the interpro defeat to his former side Leinster, has a “a low-grade leg/knee injury” but is expected to return to full training on Monday.
Alongside blindside O’Donoghue in the back row are John Hodnett at openside and academy prospect Alex Kendellen at eight.
Ben Healy starts in Carbery’s stead at 10, with Conor Murray retaining his place at scrum-half.
Mike Haley, Keith Earls, Simon Zebo and Jean Kleyn all return to the starting XV after recent knocks, while Van Graan has opted for a six-two split on Munster’s bench.
Craig Casey, whose impact upon his introduction against Leinster was conspicuous, backs up Murray at nine while Rory Scannell will cover the rest of the backline.
Jack O’Sullivan is the additional forward included on the bench, while lock Thomas Ahern is set to make his European debut as a replacement.
International trio Dave Kilcoyne, Tadhg Beirne and Andrew Conway had all already been ruled out of Saturday’s trip through injury.
Exeter, meanwhile, welcome Harry Williams and Sam Simmonds back into their pack, while Henry Slade’s return at 13 is the sole change to the backs from last Saturday’s English Premiership hammering of Bath.
Rob Baxter remains without injured England quartet Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ollie Devoto, Jonny Hill and Jack Nowell.
The Chiefs currently sit fourth in their league table and have won six of their last eight games since a run of four defeats in five at the turn of the year.
Exeter Chiefs
Replacements:
h3>Munster
Replacements:
- Updated at 13:00 with Exeter Chiefs team
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bare bones Heineken Champions Cup Munster