Munster rocked as Jack Crowley ruled out of Champions Cup opener vs Bath

JJ Hanrahan steps in at fly half, to form a halfback axis alongside Ireland international Craig Casey, as Munster look to bounce back from their first defeat of the season. There is some good news, however: new recruit Michael Ala’alatoa is set to make his Munster debut from the bench.

The former Leinster tighthead has linked up with the province on a short-term deal from Clermont Auvergne and is immediately drafted into the matchday 23. Head coach Clayton McMillan has made five changes to the side that fell in Cape Town. In the backs, summer signing Dan Kelly gets the nod at inside centre ahead of Alex Nankivell, joining Tom Farrell in midfield.

The back three remains unchanged, with Shane Daly at full-back and Thaakir Abrahams and Diarmuid Kilgallen on the wings. Up front, Michael Milne starts at loosehead, with Jeremy Loughman moving to the bench, while Diarmuid Barron and John Ryan continue in the front row. World Cup winner Jean Kleyn returns from international duty to partner Tom Ahern at lock, with Fineen Wycherley missing out.

Munster are also without Jack O’Donoghue, who is sidelined with concussion. John Hodnett replaces him at openside, forming a back-row trio with captain Tadhg Beirne and Gavin Coombes.

McMillan opts for a 6:2 bench split, with Ala’alatoa joined by Loughman, Lee Barron, Edwin Edogbo, Ruadhán Quinn and Alex Kendellen among the forwards, while Ethan Coughlan and Nankivell cover the backs.

15 Shane Daly; 14 Diarmuid Kilgallen, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Dan Kelly, 11 Thaakir Abrahams;
10 JJ Hanrahan, 9 Craig Casey 1 Michael Milne, 2 Diarmuid Barron, 3 John Ryan; 4 Jean Kleyn, 5 Tom Ahern; 6 Tadhg Beirne (C), 7 John Hodnett, 8 Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: 16. Lee Barron, 17. Jeremy Loughman, 18. Michael Ala’alatoa, 19. Edwin Edogbo, 20. Rudhan Quinn, 21. Ethan Coughlan, 22. Alex Nankivell 23. Alex Kendellen