Munster name side for Gloucester clash
The Munster side has been named by Head Coach Johann van Graan for Friday night’s Champions Cup clash against Gloucester at Kingsholm (7.45pm, live on BT Sport).
Peter O’Mahony captains Munster with six changes to the side that defeated Connacht last weekend.
Chris Farrell keeps his place after receiving positive news on a knee scan this week.
Mike Haley, Rory Scannell, Conor Murray, Dave Kilcoyne, Stephen Archer and CJ Stander all come into the side. Haley starts at full-back with Andrew Conway and Keith Earls on the wings. Scannell and Farrell form the centre partnership with Murray and Joey Carbery in the half-backs.
Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell and Archer pack down in the front row with Jean Kleyn and Tadhg Beirne in the engine room. O’Mahony, Tommy O’Donnell and Stander make up the Munster back row.
Rhys Marshall returns from injury and is named among the replacements with the hooker set to make his first appearance since October’s clash against Gloucester.
Pool 2 is evenly poised ahead of the weekend’s clashes with all four sides vying for top spot and a quarter-final place.
While Munster and Gloucester face off at Kingsholm on Friday night, second-placed Castres travel to face Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park on Sunday afternoon (1pm).
A large contingent of Munster supporters are travelling to the south-west of England and the MRSC have compiled an away guide for the weekend, which you can read here.
Pool 2 is evenly poised.
Munster, who will be wearing their Alternate kit for the clash, go into the game on the back of an impressive bonus-point win away to Connacht that saw Johann van Graan’s side move to the top of Guinness PRO14 Conference A.
Gloucester, meanwhile, fell to a 34-16 loss away to Leicester Tigers in the Premiership but have a formidable home record and will be eager to secure the win in front of a sell-out home crowd.
Munster: Mike Haley; Andrew Conway, Chris Farrell, Rory Scannell, Keith Earls; Joey Carbery, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne; Peter O’Mahony (C), Tommy O’Donnell, CJ Stander.
Replacements: Rhys Marshall, Jeremy Loughman, John Ryan, Billy Holland, Arno Botha, Alby Mathewson, Tyler Bleyendaal, Dan Goggin.