THERE are a significant 10 changes from the Munster XV that beat Cardiff at Thomond Park for this Friday’s URC outing with Edinburgh at Virgin Media Park, 7.45pm.
Last season’s Player of the Year Tom Farrell, Calvin Nash, Andrew Smith and Michael Milne all start on their first appearances of the new season.
Captain Diarmuid Barron, Mike Haley, Seán O’Brien, JJ Hanrahan, Paddy Patterson and Jack O’Donoghue also come into the side.
Replacement Edwin Edogbo is in line for his first appearance since December 2023 after recovering from injury with John Ryan set for his first appearance of the season.
Haley, Nash and Smith start in the back three with O’Brien and Farrell teaming up in midfield. Patterson and Hanrahan start together in the half-backs.
Milne, Barron and Oli Jager pack down in the front row with Jean Kleyn and Ahern starting together in the engine room for the third game in succession.
Jack O’Donoghue, Ruadhán Quinn and Gavin Coombes complete the side.
On the injury front, Shane Daly and Tom Aherne will return to training next while, times-scales for for others have been provied: Niall Scaannell (1-2 weeks), Diarmuid Kilgallen (1-2 weeks), Craig Casey (1-3 weeks), John Hodnett (2-3 weeks), Alex Kendellen (6 to 8 weeks) and Conor Bartley (6 to 8 weeks).
Munster: Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Seán O’Brien, Andrew Smith; JJ Hanrahan, Paddy Patterson; Michael Milne, Diarmuid Barron, captain, Oli Jager; Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley; Jack O’Donoghue, Ruadhán Quinn, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Lee Barron, Josh Wycherley, John Ryan, Edwin Edogbo, Brian Gleeson, Ethan Coughlan, Tony Butler, Dan Kelly.