CRAIG Casey has been named as captain by Munster for Saturday’s URC opener with Welsh outfit Scarlets at Parc y Scarlets, 5.30pm.
It will be Casey’s first occasion to skipper the club.
Dan Kelly makes his debut after joining from Leicester Tigers with JJ Hanrahan starting at out-half having returned to his home province in the summer.
Jean Kleyn has fully recovered from the knee injury he sustained on international duty with the Springboks and starts in the second row.
Five of Munster’s Ireland internationals who were on the summer tour are included. Casey and Alex Kendellen both start with Tom Ahern, Gavin Coombes, and Jack Crowley among the replacements.
Mike Haley, Shane Daly and Thaakir Abrahams make up the back three with Alex Nankivell and Kelly forming a new-look centre partnership.
Casey, who led Ireland on the summer tour, and Hanrahan start together in the half-backs for the first time since Munster’s win away to Edinburgh in February 2021.
Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell (200th cap) and Oli Jager pack down in the front row with Kleyn and Fineen Wycherley in the engine room.
Jack O’Donoghue, Alex Kendellen, and Brian Gleeson start in the back row.
Munster: Mike Haley: Shane Daly, Dan Kelly, Alex Nankivell, Thaakir Abrahams; JJ Hanrahan, Craig Casey, captain; Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, Oli Jager; Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley; Jack O’Donoghue, Alex Kendellen, Brian Gleeson.
Replacements: Lee Barron, Josh Wycherley, Conor Bartley, Tom Ahern, Gavin Coombes, Paddy Patterson, Jack Crowley, Seán O’Brien.
