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Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Munster starting team unchanged but bench tweaked for URC quarter-final
Munster will have an unchanged starting line-up for the third game in a row for Saturday's URC quarter-final at Durban's Kings Park while the Sharks have brought back a dual World Cup-winning duo of Springboks to boost their ranks. Sharks head coach John Plumtree's team selection on Friday underlined the size of the challenge facing Munster, making five changes from the side which edged the Scarlets 12-3 at home in the final round of the regular season a fortnight ago, and including Springbok captain Siya Kolisi and Lukhanyo Am. Munster, though, stick with the XV which booked their play-off spot by landing home bonus-point wins over Ulster and Benetton in the final two games of the league campaign to finish sixth in the URC standings. Interim head coach Ian Costello has tweaked his bench, however, with a fit-again Diarmuid Barron replacing loanee Lee Barron, an impressive try scorer off the bench against Benetton two weeks ago, as replacement hooker. There is a switch from a six forwards, two backs split from the previous two outings to a 5:3, meaning Fineen Wycherley is the forward to miss out while veteran scrum-half Conor Murray is joined by two fresh backline replacements in the form of Mike Haley and Rory Scannell, who is set to make his 200th appearances for Munster as Sean O'Brien is stood down as the lone outside back cover. Among the quintet of Sharks changes, Kolisi will start at No.8, while Am is set to make his 100th appearance for the franchise in the centres alongside Andre Esterhuizen. Jordan Hendrikse is handed the fly-half role alongside brother Jaden Hendrikse at scrum-half while there are two more changes to the forward pack with former Munster and Leinster lock Jason Jenkins, a one-cap Springbok, coming off the bench to start in the second row while James Venter moves in at blindside flanker in a team captained by Eben Etzebeth. SHARKS: A Fassi; E Hooker, L Am, A Esterhuizen, M Mapimpi; Jordan Hendrikse, Jaden Hendrikse; O Nche, B Mbonambi, V Koch; E Etzebeth – captain, J Jenkins; J Venter, V Tshituka, S Kolisi. Replacements: F Mbatha, N Mchunu, H Jacobs, E van Heerden, P Buthelezi, B Davids, F Venter, Y Penxe MUNSTER: T Abrahams; C Nash, T Farrell, A Nankivell, D Kilgallen; J Crowley, C Casey; M Milne, N Scannell, S Archer; J Kleyn, T Beirne - captain; P O'Mahony, J Hodnett, G Coombes. Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Josh Wycherley, John Ryan, Tom Ahern, Alex Kendellen, Conor Murray, Rory Scannell, Mike Haley.
The Irish Sun
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Munster receive VERY timely boost while flying to South Africa for URC play-off battle with Sharks
JACK Crowley appears to be all systems go for Munster's URC play-off fixture in South Africa on Saturday. The fly-half had soldiered on through a rib injury during the Advertisement 2 Munster's players and staff fly out to South Africa today 2 Munster will need the 25-year-old at his best if they are to extend their season for another week The pain was such that he was withdrawn on 74 minutes once the critical victory was secured. But the ten days of rest since then seem to have brightened his outlook for this weekend's challenge as he's been named in their 32-player squad which departs for South Africa today. In an Instagram post the 2023 URC champs stated: "Jack Crowley, Diarmuid Barron and Niall Scannell have all been passed fit and are available for selection." The squad in full is as follows: Advertisement Read More On Irish Sport Forwards : Tom Ahern, Stephen Archer, Diarmuid Barron, Lee Barron, Tadhg Beirne, Gavin Coombes, Ronan Foxe, John Hodnett, Alex Kendellen, Jean Kleyn, Jeremy Loughman, Michael Milne, Jack O'Donoghue, Peter O'Mahony, John Ryan, Niall Scannell, Fineen Wycherley, Josh Wycherley. Backs : Thaakir Abrahams, Tony Butler, Craig Casey, Jack Crowley, Tom Farrell, Mike Haley, Diarmuid Kilgallen, Conor Murray, Alex Nankivell, Calvin Nash, Seán O'Brien, Paddy Patterson, Rory Scannell, Andrew Smith. Thankfully the time difference between Ireland and South Africa is surprisingly minimal with them a mere hour ahead so it's akin to continental Europe. That means it'll be a favourable kick-off time from an Irish television standpoint with the action at Kings Park AKA The Shark Tank to get going at 5.30pm Irish time. Advertisement Most read in Rugby Union The Reds snuck in as sixth seeds with a patchy record of nine wins against nine losses. Sharks meanwhile, wound up in third spot having won 13 to only defeats. 'That time of year again' - Peter O'Mahony's captivating garden update includes hilarious tip for parents They boast a bunch of the Springboks' World Cup winners including Eben Etzebeth and JP Pietersen. According to Sharks' Instagram account, the game is trending towards being a 52,000 sell-out which will only add to the already formidable challenge awaiting Ian Costello's outfit. Advertisement They have at least caught one break in that Durban is a coastal city so an exhausting altitude won't be a factor the way it would be in Johannesburg, Pretoria and Bloemfontein. Speaking after "We've got a healthy squad and a competitive squad and we said it throughout the whole season: when we're close to full strength, we feel we can go toe to toe with any team, whether it's at home or on the road. Advertisement "We're going to enjoy a few days...I won't lie, we need to take a breather and come down after it. "And then we'll have 10 to 12 days to build up to a quarter-final wherever it might be."
RTÉ News
7 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Munster's Jack Crowley fit for Sharks expedition
Jack Crowley has been passed fit for Munster's BKT URC quarter-final against Sharks on Saturday. The Ireland out-half played through a rib injury in the province's crucial victory over Benetton in round 18 ten days ago before coming off with six minutes to play. However, the club confirmed that the 25-year-old has travelled with the squad to Durban and is available for selection for the Kings Park clash (5.30pm Irish time). A 32-player squad is making its way to South Africa today. "Jack Crowley, Diarmuid Barron and Niall Scannell have all been passed fit and are available for selection," said the 2023 winners, who finished the regular season in sixth place. Jeremy Loughman also returns and could be in line for his first appearance since he suffered a hamstring injury in last month's win over La Rochelle. Edwin Edogbo made a successful return to action earlier this month for Munster 'A' against Connacht Eagles and his return will continue to be managed as he recovers from a long-term injury. Oli Jager (head), Ethan Coughlan (hamstring), Billy Burns (shoulder), Shane Daly (hamstring), Roman Salanoa (knee) are continuing to rehab. Forwards Tom Ahern, Stephen Archer, Diarmuid Barron, Lee Barron, Tadhg Beirne, Gavin Coombes, Ronan Foxe, John Hodnett, Alex Kendellen, Jean Kleyn, Jeremy Loughman, Michael Milne, Jack O'Donoghue, Peter O'Mahony, John Ryan, Niall Scannell, Fineen Wycherley, Josh Wycherley. Backs Thaakir Abrahams, Tony Butler, Craig Casey, Jack Crowley, Tom Farrell, Mike Haley, Diarmuid Kilgallen, Conor Murray, Alex Nankivell, Calvin Nash, Seán O'Brien, Paddy Patterson, Rory Scannell, Andrew Smith.
Irish Times
7 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Jack Crowley passed fit for Munster's journey to Durban
Jack Crowley , Diarmuid Barron and Niall Scannell have all been passed fit and are available for selection for Munster 's journey to Durban for Saturday's URC quarter-final against Hollywoodbets Sharks at King Park (KO 5.30pm). A 32-player Munster squad will travel to South Africa while the matchday 23 will be confirmed on Friday afternoon. Jeremy Loughman also returns and could be in line for his first appearance since he suffered a hamstring injury in last month's win over La Rochelle. Edwin Edogbo made a successful return to action earlier this month for Munster 'A' against Connacht Eagles and his return will continue to be managed as he recovers from a long-term injury. READ MORE Munster's travelling squad for the URC quarter-final Forwards Tom Ahern, Stephen Archer, Diarmuid Barron, Lee Barron, Tadhg Beirne, Gavin Coombes, Ronan Foxe, John Hodnett, Alex Kendellen, Jean Kleyn, Jeremy Loughman, Michael Milne, Jack O'Donoghue, Peter O'Mahony, John Ryan, Niall Scannell, Fineen Wycherley, Josh Wycherley. Backs Thaakir Abrahams, Tony Butler, Craig Casey, Jack Crowley, Tom Farrell, Mike Haley, Diarmuid Kilgallen, Conor Murray, Alex Nankivell, Calvin Nash, Seán O'Brien, Paddy Patterson, Rory Scannell, Andrew Smith.
Irish Examiner
7 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Munster welcome Crowley, Barron, Scannell, Loughman and Edogbo back for Sharks quarter-final
Munster are heading to Durban boosted by the presences of a quintet of fit-again frontline players on the plane to South Africa ahead of Saturday's URC quarter-final at the Sharks. Fly-half Jack Crowley, and hookers Diarmuid Barron and Niall Scannell have each been passed fit to travel on Monday and have been joined by loosehead prop Jeremy Loughman and lock Edwin Edogbo in a 32-player travelling squad led by captain Tadhg Beirne. Munster booked their place in the URC play-offs with a final-round, 30-21 victory over Benetton in Cork on May 16, when interim head coach Ian Costello had the luxury of selecting an unchanged matchday 23 form the previous weekend's 38-20 Thomond Park derby win over Ulster. Those back-to-back bonus-point successes secured sixth place in the final regular season standings and booked a trip to third seeds the Sharks and Munster's hand has been strengthened by those reinforcements among the travelling party. Crowley and Scannell started the Benetton game but the Ireland playmaker played through a bang to the ribs which forced him to pass goal-kicking duties onto half-back partner Craig Casey before he was finally withdrawn on 75 minutes. Scannell, meanwhile was withdrawn for a Head Injury Assessment after 33 minutes but also been passed fit for the Kings Park mission. Diarmuid Barron missed the last two rounds with a shoulder injury but travelled south as one of three hookers alongside Scannell and new signing Lee Barron, who impressed coming off the bench with a try-scoring performance. The returns of Loughman and Edogbo come after lengthier absences. Loosehead prop Loughman's hamstring injury in the Champions Cup knockout win at La Rochelle prompted Munster to bring forward Michael Milne's arrival on loan from Leinster alongside Lee Barron ahead of their permanent summer moves. Milne has also impressed on his arrival and Loughman's return gives Costello a strong suite of front-row forwards ahead of a potential battle royal with a heavyweight Test-level Sharks front row. Edogbo had been sidelined since December 2023 with an Achilles tendon injury but the Cobh powerhouse made a successful return in Munster A's win over Connacht Eagles in Cork, also on May 16, although the province on Monday cautioned that 'his return will continue to be managed as he recovers from a long-term injury'. Tighthead props Oli Jager (head) and Roman Salanoa (knee), scrum-half Ethan Coughlan (hamstring), fly-half Billy Burns (shoulder), and back-three player Shane Daly (hamstring) remain on the Munster rehab list. Munster Travelling Squad For URC Quarter-Final Forwards: Tom Ahern, Stephen Archer, Diarmuid Barron, Lee Barron, Tadhg Beirne, Gavin Coombes, Ronan Foxe, John Hodnett, Alex Kendellen, Jean Kleyn, Jeremy Loughman, Michael Milne, Jack O'Donoghue, Peter O'Mahony, John Ryan, Niall Scannell, Fineen Wycherley, Josh Wycherley. Backs: Thaakir Abrahams, Tony Butler, Craig Casey, Jack Crowley, Tom Farrell, Mike Haley, Diarmuid Kilgallen, Conor Murray, Alex Nankivell, Calvin Nash, Seán O'Brien, Paddy Patterson, Rory Scannell, Andrew Smith.
