Munster Rugby team to face Ospreys in URC play-off at Thomond Park named

THE Munster Rugby side to face Ospreys in their URC quarter-final play-off at Thomond Park this Friday, 7.35pm, live RTE2, has been named.

There are three personnel changes to the Munster side that beat Ulster last week to secure the top spot in the URC table at the end of the regular season.

Centre Antoine Frisch returns from a leg injury to make his 40th Munster appearance in the only change to the backline with John Hodnett and Gavin Coombes coming into the pack.

The back three of Simon Zebo, Calvin Nash and Shane Daly is unchanged.

Seán O’Brien and Frisch form the centre partnership as O’Brien moves to inside centre.

Craig Casey and Jack Crowley continue their half-back partnership.

Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell and Stephen Archer pack down in the front row with RG Snyman and captain Tadhg Beirne completing an unchanged front five.

Peter O’Mahony, Hodnett and Coombes start in the back row.

In the replacements, Diarmuid Barron is included after recovering from a foot injury sustained in December with Academy out-half Tony Butler in line for his seventh appearance of the campaign.

Barron, John Ryan and Oli Jager provide the front row back-up as Jack O’Donoghue and Alex Kendellen complete the forward cover.

Conor Murray, Butler and Mike Haley are the backline replacements.

MUNSTER RUGBY: Simon Zebo; Calvin Nash, Antoine Frisch, Seán O’Brien, Shane Daly; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; RG Snyman, Tadhg Beirne (Capt); Peter O’Mahony, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes. Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, John Ryan, Oli Jager, Jack O’Donoghue, Alex Kendellen, Conor Murray, Tony Butler, Mike Haley.