Munster Rugby name side for historic Páirc Uí Chaoimh Champions Cup showdown with Gloucester

THE MUNSTER RUGBY side has been named for Saturday’s historic Investec Champions Cup clash against Gloucester at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh (5.30pm).

Following the installation of a big screen at the City End, the capacity has been set at 40,000 with a record crowd for a Champions Cup game in Munster to attend.

There are nine personnel changes and three positional switches to the side that faced Bath last week.Academy back three player Ben O’Connor, Mike Haley, Alex Nankivell and Jack Crowley all come into the backline.

Michael Ala’alatoa will make his first Munster start in a new-look front row that also includes Michael Milne and Niall Scannell. Jean Kleyn and Jack O’Donoghue are the final two additions.

The three positional changes see Shane Daly move to the wing as Dan Kelly goes to outside centre and captain Tadhg Beirne slots into the engine room.

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Haley starts at full-back with Daly and O’Connor on either wing as Nankivell and Kelly partner up in midfield.Craig Casey and Crowley renew their half-back partnership.

Milne, Scannell and Ala’alatoa pack down in the front row with Kleyn and Beirne in the engine room. Tom Ahern, O’Donoghue and Gavin Coombes complete the side.

Young Munster tighthead prop Conor Bartley is named among the replacements and is in line for his Champions Cup debut having joined the province last season after impressing in the AIL.

He becomes the fourth player to earn a Champions Cup debut over the opening two rounds after Edwin Edogbo, Ruadhán Quinn and Lee Barron made their bows in the competition last week.

Diarmuid Barron, Josh Wycherley and Bartley provide the front row back-up as Edogbo and Quinn complete the forward cover.

Paddy Patterson, JJ Hanrahan and Tom Farrell are the backline replacements.

Munster Rugby: Mike Haley; Shane Daly, Dan Kelly, Alex Nankivell, Ben O’Connor; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Michael Milne, Niall Scannell, Michael Ala’alatoa; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne (C); Tom Ahern, Jack O’Donoghue, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Josh Wycherley, Conor Bartley, Edwin Edogbo, Ruadhán Quinn, Paddy Patterson, JJ Hanrahan, Tom Farrell.