Munster welcome back four Ireland internationals for Champions Cup clash

Captain Tadhg Beirne, scrum-half Craig Casey, fly-half Jack Crowley and centre Tom Farrell all return after being rested for last week’s United Rugby Championship defeat to Ulster in Belfast.

However, head coach Clayton McMillan will be without John Hodnett (thumb) and Alex Kendellen (ankle), who both remain sidelined through injury.

There is better news elsewhere, with centre Alex Nankivell cleared to play after a knock against Ulster, while prop Oli Jager has resumed full training following a three-month absence after suffering concussion against Edinburgh on 18 October.

Munster began their Champions Cup campaign in impressive fashion with a commanding 31-3 win over Gloucester, but that was followed by a heavy 40-14 defeat away to Bath.

Last Friday’s 28-3 loss to Ulster marked a second URC derby defeat in the space of a week, after a narrow 13-8 reverse to Leinster at Thomond Park on December 27. McMillan’s focus on building squad depth through rotation has come at the cost of attacking cohesion, with Munster failing to score a try in either of those matches.

Ten changes were made between the Leinster and Ulster games, including the enforced rest, under IRFU player welfare guidelines, of Beirne, Casey, Crowley and Farrell.

Despite the recent setbacks, Munster remain firmly in contention in an ultra-competitive Pool 2. After two rounds, Bath lead the standings on six points, with Castres, Munster, Toulon and Edinburgh all locked together on five.