Munster Bring In Marshall, Kleyn And Keatley For Racing Test
Munster play their first home game of the 2017/18 Champions Cup against Racing 92 at Thomond Park on Saturday (kick-off 5.30pm), with director of rugby Rassie Erasmus making three changes to that team that drew with Castres.
The first of the changes is in the the front row where Kiwi hooker Rhys Marshall comes in for Niall Scannell, who misses out with a thumb injury. Jean Kleyn returns from the neck injury he sustained in GUINNESS PRO14 action against Glasgow Warriors to start in the second row.
While a neck complaint sees Tyler Bleyendaal miss out this weekend, Ian Keatley takes charge at out-half. Flanker Tommy O’Donnell will win his 150th Munster cap in Glasgow with the province playing their 160th tournament fixture – a Champions Cup record.
Replacement hooker Kevin O’Byrne will make his European debut if he features off the bench. O’Byrne was one of the try scorers in the Munster ‘A’ team’s victory over the Ospreys Premiership Select in the opening round of the British & Irish Cup.
Thanks to title sponsors, Bank of Ireland, who are proud partners of Munster Rugby and Irish Heart Foundation, Munster’s matchday jerseys tomorrow will carry the Irish Heart Foundation logo on the front as a mark of the province’s support in the fight against sudden cardiac death. This is following the recent announcement of a lifesaving legacy in memory of Anthony Foley.
There will also be a minute’s applause in memory of Axel just before kick-off at Thomond Park. Tickets for the Munster v Racing 92 round 2 clash can be purchased online at munsterrugby.ie or at the ground tomorrow from 9am.
MUNSTER (v Racing 92): Simon Zebo; Darren Sweetnam, Chris Farrell, Rory Scannell, Keith Earls; Ian Keatley, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Rhys Marshall, Stephen Archer, Jean Kleyn, Billy Holland, Peter O’Mahony (capt), Tommy O’Donnell, CJ Stander.
Replacements: Kevin O’Byrne, Liam O’Connor, John Ryan, Mark Flanagan, Jack O’Donoghue, Duncan Williams, JJ Hanrahan, Andrew Conway.