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Team News | Munster Side To Face Exeter Chiefs

December 15, 2023 12:02 pm By The Editor

Jack Crowley starts at out-half for Munster. Inpho

The Munster team has been named for Sunday’s Investec Champions Cup clash against Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park (1pm, live on TNT Sports & ITV).

There are six personnel changes and three positional switches to the side that faced Bayonne last week.

Shane Daly, Antoine Frisch and Craig Casey come into the backline with Diarmuid Barron, Stephen Archer and Jack O’Donoghue starting in the pack.

Calvin Nash moves from full-back to wing, Gavin Coombes goes from no.8 to the second row and Alex Nankivell moves to inside centre.

Daly starts at full-back with Nash and Seán O’Brien on either wing.

Nankivell and Frisch start together in midfield as Casey comes into the side at scrum-half to partner Jack Crowley.

Jeremy Loughman, Barron and Archer pack down in the front row with Coombes and captain Tadhg Beirne in the engine room.

Tom Ahern, John Hodnett and O’Donoghue complete the side.

Eoghan Clarke, Josh Wycherley and Oli Jager are the front row replacements with Jager in line for his Champions Cup debut.

19-year-old Academy back-row forward Brian Gleeson is also set for his first Champions Cup appearance with Alex Kendellen completing the forward cover.

Conor Murray, Rory Scannell and Ben O’Connor, another 19-year-old Academy man, are the backline replacements.

On the injury front, Fineen Wycherley was unavailable after picking up a knock in training. Peter O’Mahony (shoulder) and Academy lock Edwin Edogbo (neck) also miss out.

Find out all you need to know ahead of the game here.

Munster: Shane Daly; Calvin Nash, Antoine Frisch, Alex Nankivell, Seán O’Brien; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron, Stephen Archer; Gavin Coombes, Tadhg Beirne (C); Tom Ahern, John Hodnett, Jack O’Donoghue.

Replacements: Eoghan Clarke, Josh Wycherley, Oli Jager, Brian Gleeson, Alex Kendellen, Conor Murray, Rory Scannell, Ben O’Connor.

Press Pass

Hear from Jack Crowley and Defence Coach Denis Leamy ahead of the game.

Upcoming Home Games

URC Round 8: Tuesday, December 26

Munster v Leinster, Thomond Park, 7.35pm; SOLD OUT

Champions Cup Round 4: Saturday, January 20

Munster Rugby v Northampton Saints, Thomond Park, 5.30pm; Buy tickets here

Saturday, February 3

Munster Rugby v Crusaders, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 5pm; SOLD OUT

URC Round 11: Friday, March 1

Munster v Zebre Parma, Musgrave Park, 7.35pm; Buy tickets here

URC Round 13: Saturday, March 30

Munster v Cardiff Rugby, Thomond Park, 7.35pm; Buy tickets here

URC Round 16: Saturday, May 11

Munster v Connacht, Thomond Park, 5.15pm; Buy tickets here

URC Round 18: Saturday, June 1

Munster v Ulster, Thomond Park, 5.15pm; Buy tickets here

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Report

Report | Munster Fall To Defeat In Exeter

December 17, 2023 5:01 pm By The Editor

Munster fell to a 32-24 defeat at Sandy Park in their second Investec Champions Cup game of the season when Exeter Chiefs came from behind to take the spoils.

Munster led by 24-13 with half an hour remaining but did not score again and Exeter Chiefs hit back to score three tries to claim the win.

Munster led 19-10 at the break after starting the encounter well in front of 13,634, with Calvin Nash getting in for the opening try of the match after six minutes. Jack Crowley converted to make it 7-0.

Exeter hit back and got back on level terms after 17 minutes when Dan Frost got over and Henry Slade added the conversion.

Munster hit the front again 17 minutes from the break when Tom Ahern finished a fine move out wide to score his first try in the competition.

Slade pulled back a penalty for Exeter but Munster went in leading by nine at the break when Antoine Frisch finished in the right corner after good pressure, with Crowley adding the conversion from the wing.

Another penalty from Slade reduced the margin five minutes after the restart but once again the Munster response was good with Frisch sending Shane Daly over for Munster’s fourth try of the afternoon after 50 minutes.

The game was scoreless for 14 minutes after that before Exeter struck twice in little over a minute, with Ross Vintcent and Jack Dunne scoring for them. Slade converted both to push Exeter 27-24 in front after 66 minutes.

Munster pushed forward in the closing stages but got caught by an intercept try from Slade who raced in to score from distance.

Investec Champions Cup Round 2 Round-Up

Munster earned one bonus-point as a result of scoring four tries.

Oli Jager and Academy back-row Brian Gleeson made their European debuts.

Munster: Shane Daly; Calvin Nash, Antoine Frisch, Alex Nankivell, Seán O’Brien (Ben O’Connor 78′); Jack Crowley, Craig Casey (Conor Murray 58′); Jeremy Loughman (Josh Wycherley 67′), Diarmuid Barron, Stephen Archer (Oli Jager 58′); Gavin Coombes, Tadhg Beirne (C); Tom Ahern, John Hodnett (Alex Kendellen 72′), Jack O’Donoghue (Brian Gleeson 69′).