Munster have made eight changes to the team that lost to the Lions in Johannesburg last Saturday for Friday night's URC clash against Benetton at Musgrave Park (7.35pm).
While the Cork venue has hosted the Irish under-20s’ three home games in their 2022 Six Nations Grand Slam campaign, it will be the first Munster game at Musgrave Park since before the pandemic. The province last played at the ground when beating the Southern Kings on February 14th, 2020 by 68-3 in front of an attendance of 6,854.
Craig Casey and Gavin Coombes both return from international duty to start. Matt Gallagher, Rory Scannell, Simon Zebo, Ben Healy, Diarmuid Barron and Stephen Archer also come into the side. There is one positional switch as Damian de Allende moves to outside centre.
Academy hooker Scott Buckley is among the replacements along with Jeremy Loughman, who also returns from international camp. Jason Jenkins is in line to make his second Munster appearance after recovering from an abdomen injury.
Munster: Matt Gallagher; Shane Daly, Damian de Allende, Rory Scannell, Simon Zebo; Ben Healy, Craig Casey; Josh Wycherley, Diarmuid Barron, Stephen Archer; Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley; Jack O'Donoghue (C), John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Scott Buckley, Jeremy Loughman, Keynan Knox, Jason Jenkins, Jack O'Sullivan, Neil Cronin, Jake Flannery, Chris Farrell.
