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Sam Prendergast of Leinster, left, and Gavin Coombes of Munster during the United Rugby Championship match between Leinster and Munster at Croke Park in Dublin. (Photo By Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images) https://www.rugbypass.com/news/snubbed-ireland-star-headlines-munster-side-to-play-argentina-xv/
Munster have made 11 changes to their starting XV for their upcoming United Rugby Championship clash, with captain Jack O’Donoghue again leading the side and Gavin Coombes retaining his place in the back row.
Coombes will have to make do with starting for the province on this one game, having once again missed out on Andy Farrell’s Ireland squad.
The shake-up follows last weekend’s win over Connacht at Thomond Park, as Munster head coach Clayton McMillan continues to spread game time across the squad.
Academy tighthead Ronan Foxe earns his first senior start, joining Josh Wycherley and Lee Barron in a new-look front row.
It’s a fresh combination in the engine room too, with Conor Ryan set for his Munster debut alongside Evan O’Connell – nehpew of Munster and Ireland legend Paul – who makes his first start of the campaign.
O’Donoghue and Coombes continue at blindside and No.8 respectively, with teenager Ruadhán Quinn drafted in at openside to complete the back row.
There are changes throughout the backline, with Paddy Patterson and Tony Butler forming a new half-back pairing. Seán O’Brien starts at inside centre, while academy prospect Fionn Gibbons lines up outside him in what will be his first Munster start and third appearance overall.
Diarmuid Kilgallen retains his spot on the right wing after a successful return from injury last week, with Shay McCarthy on the opposite flank and Mike Haley returning at full-back.
Among the replacements, academy quartet Max Clein, Luke Murphy, Jake O’Riordan and Ben O’Connor are included, with Clein and Murphy both in line for their senior debuts. Experienced heads Fineen Wycherley and JJ Hanrahan offer cover at lock and fly-half, respectively.
This selection brings to 47 the number of Munster players deployed in matchday squads across the opening five rounds of the URC.
Munster: Mike Haley; Diarmuid Kilgallen, Fionn Gibbons, Seán O’Brien, Shay McCarthy; Tony Butler, Paddy Patterson; Josh Wycherley, Lee Barron, Ronan Foxe; Conor Ryan, Evan O’Connell; Jack O’Donoghue (C), Ruadhán Quinn, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Max Clein, Mark Donnelly, Kieran Ryan, Fineen Wycherley, Luke Murphy, Jake O’Riordan, JJ Hanrahan, Ben O’Connor.
