Triple injury boost for Munster as side to face Toulon is named

MUNSTER have received a triple injury boost ahead of Easter Saturday’s record 17th Champions Cup quarter-final appearance with Simon Zebo, Andrew Conway and Rory Scannell all included in the starting line-up to face Toulon at Thomond Park, 3.15pm. 

Zebo and Conway are both back from injury having come through training this week, while Scannell, who had been following return to play protocols, is named in the centre alongside Sam Arnold.

 Grand Slam winners Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray and CJ Stander also return to the side for the glamour tie with the three-time European Cup winners.

In all, the starting line-up show six changes to the side that beat Scarlets 19-7 in the Guinness PRO14 last Saturday.

Alex Wootton, Munster’s top try-scorer so far this season, is again named on the wing.

EPCR European Player of the Year nominee Murray starts at scrum-half as Ian Keatley, who scored 61 points in six Pool games, takes the 10 shirt.

Dave Kilcoyne, Rhys Marshall and Archer get the nod in the front row as Billy Holland and Jean Kleyn team up in the engine room.

Captain O’Mahony and Stander come into the back row after their international exploits with  number 8 Stander another man to have played all 480 minutes of the European campaign so far.

Jack O’Donoghue keeps his place in the team after an eye-catching display against Scarlets, moving from blindside to openside flanker.

The all-international trio of Niall Scannell, James Cronin and John Ryan make up the front row cover.

Having both faced Munster as Racing 92 players in last season’s Champions Cup, James Hart and Gerbrandt Grobler are in line to make their European bows for Munster off the bench.

Last week’s Man of the Match Robin Copeland, JJ Hanrahan and Darren Sweetnam complete the replacements.

MUNSTER: Simon Zebo; Andrew Conway, Sammy Arnold, Rory Scannell, Alex Wootton; Ian Keatley, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Rhys Marshall, Stephen Archer; Jean Kleyn, Billy Holland; Peter O’Mahony (Capt), Jack O’Donoghue, CJ Stander. Replacements: Niall Scannell, James Cronin, John Ryan, Gerbrandt Grobler, Robin Copeland, James Hart, JJ Hanrahan, Darren Sweetnam.

TOULON: Chris Ashton; Josua Tuisova, Mathieu Bastareaud, Ma'a Nonu, Semi Radradra; Francois Trinh-Duc, Eric Escande; Florian Fresia, Guilhem Guirado, Marcel Van Der Merwe; Juandre Kruger, Dave Attwood; Raphael Lakafia, Facundo Isa, Duane Vermeulen. Replacements: Anthony Etrillard, Xavier Chiocci, Emerick Setiano, Romain Taofifenua, Anthony Belleau, Malakai Fekitoa, Alby Mathewson, Samu Manoa.