CONOR MURRAY AND captain Peter O’Mahony have failed to recover from injury in time to feature in Munster’s Guinness Pro12 final against Glasgow Warriors at Kingspan Stadium tomorrow evening [KO 18.30].
The Ireland international scrum-half picked up a knee injury during last weekend’s semi-final win over the Ospreys at Thomond Park, being replaced by Duncan Williams in the first half.
Munster say Murray met with a specialist yesterday and is required to rehab a medial ligament injury for the next six weeks.
Skipper O’Mahony, meanwhile, has been struggling with a hip flexor issue in recent times and was also withdrawn against the Ospreys, exiting early in the second half. The flanker failed a late fitness test today.
Cork man Williams takes Murray’s place in the nine shirt for tomorrow’s final, with UL Bohs’ halfback Cathal Sheridan being included on the bench having proven his fitness after a troublesome arm injury in recent times.
Billy Holland comes into the starting XV in O’Mahony’s place, with Donnacha Ryan moving to the blindside of the back row and Paddy Butler continuing in the seven shirt.
Sean Dougall has been included on the bench and Denis Hurley takes over the captaincy from O’Mahony.
More positively, Simon Zebo has recovered from the heavy blow to the head he took last weekend against the Ospreys and starts on the left wing. BJ Botha is preferred to Stephen Archer at tighthead prop, while James Cronin makes a return to the Munster bench.
Meanwhile, Glasgow coach Gregor Townsend has made a number of changes to the side that beat Ulster in the semi-finals, with try-scoring replacement DTH Van der Merwe promoted to the starting XV at the expense of Niko Matawalu.
Dougie Hall comes in at hooker, while Gordon Reid replaces the injured Ryan Grant at loosehead prop. Fijian lock Leone Nakarawa comes into the team in place of captain Al Kellock, who drops to the bench.
In the back row, Josh Strauss moves to number eight and takes over the captaincy, while Ryan Wilson and Josh Harley are included at the expense of Adam Ashe and Chris Fusaro.
Munster
15. Felix Jones
14. Keith Earls
13. Andrew Smith
12. Denis Hurley (captain)
11. Simon Zebo
10. Ian Keatley
9. Duncan Williams
1. Dave Kilcoyne
2. Eusebio Guinazu
3. BJ Botha
4. Billy Holland
5. Paul O’Connell
6. Donnacha Ryan
7. Paddy Butler
8. CJ Stander
Replacements:
16. Duncan Casey
17. James Cronin
18. Stephen Archer
19. Sean Dougall
20. Jack O’Donoghue
21. Cathal Sheridan
22. JJ Hanrahan
23. Ronan O’Mahony
Glasgow Warriors
15. Stuart Hogg
14. Tommy Seymour
13. Richie Vernon
12. Peter Horne
11. DTH van der Merwe
10. Finn Russell
9. Henry Pyrgos
1. Gordon Reid
2. Dougie Hall
3. Rossouw de Klerk
4. Leone Nakarawa
5. Jonny Gray
6. Rob Harley
7. Ryan Wilson
8. Josh Strauss (captain)
Replacements:
16. Fraser Brown
17. Jerry Yanuyanutawa
18. Jon Welsh
19. Al Kellock
20. Chris Fusaro
21. Niko Matawalu
22. Duncan Weir
23. Sean Lamont
Referee: Nigel Owen [WRU].
Do it for Paulie lads
Huge loss having Murray out but Williams having his best season to date, hopefully that continues for the last day out. O’Mahoney big loss for so many reasons in so many areas, but again the performances of the players coming in have shown our depth in the back row should cope. Seriously talented replacement front row to come on around the 60! And the rest of bench not too shabby either. Bench could actually win it for us. Gwan Munster give Paulie a fitting send off!!
Not looking good. Needed O’Mahony to slow down their ball and Williams isn’t a great decision maker.
John Ryan has to feel very disappointed. He’s been solid in the scrum and effective in the loose, doesn’t concede many penalties. All in all probably best team we cpuld put out. Let’s hope Keatly has kicking boots on
Disapointing news but I fully believe we have the firepower needed to take Glasgow. It’s going to be a cracking game.
As bad as our injuries are, Glasgow are without their first choice props (Ryan Grant and Euan Murray) and their first choice centres (Alex Dunbar and Mark Bennett) as well as Sean Maitland.
Target their scrum, nullify their lineout by having 3 second rows on the pitch and attack the fringes of ruck through Butler, Kilcoyne and Stander. The same way we did early in the Ospreys match when Archer nearly scored a try.
We can take em.
Uhh….. Williams, Keatley, Hurley, Smith is not a midfield to inspire confidence. Admittedly all have turned in some good performances on occasions this year but as a combination is lacklustre to same the least. Back 3 will be starved of ball again, cannot figure the turnaround on Earls positioning, sure he is scoring for fun but is far too isolated from general play. Also would liked O’Donoghue start over Holland (much improved this season), but the kid has been giving star turns at every opportunity so far…
Thought archer had a fine game last week,must be disappointed to not be starting!
Why isn’t Matawalu starting? Thought he was their main bright spark?
He mixes the brilliant with the lunacy, and in much of the game against Ulster it was the former – he was just a liability, but could be their bright-spark as a sub too. DTH VdM is as solid a player as you could find, so I guess that’s the game they’ll look to play.
Huge blow to lose our best 2 players, could really go either way. Hope POC has one of those days where his team losing just isn’t an option.
Rochelle what are doing on here?
There are articles on Madigan which need your attention!
Stander vs Strauss should be a good battle! C’mon Munster!
Any chance to see it in South America???
Seriously talented back row out injured. TOD, POM and Copeland. With the 2 new centres coming in we will have a serious squad next season. Just wish JJ was staying.
Smith at 13 again? He’s a solid player but Munster need someone who’s nimble and elusive to complement Denis Hurley. Earls at 13, with O’Mahony on the wing would be better imo
This on RTE?
Not a chance. Sky Sports.
Also TG4
And BBC 2 Scotland