Munster will hand a debut to 21-year-old Sean Edogbo as they look to get back on track in the BKT United Rugby Championship against Dragons on Friday at Virgin Media Park.
Edogbo, younger brother of recent Ireland call-up Edwin, is one of eight changes to the side that were defeated by Castres last week, a result which knocked them out of the Investec Champions Cup.
The Cork native, who plays for UCC in the Energia All-Ireland League, goes straight into the starting team as the province look to end a run of four successive defeats in all competitions.
Clayton McMillan is without his frontline Ireland internationals Tadhg Beirne, Craig Casey and Jack Crowley, while Edwin Edogbo is following the return to play protocols after failing a head injury assessment following last week’s defeat.
Diarmuid Barron comes in at hooker, where he partners Michael Ala’alatoa and Jeremy Loughman, the latter of whom earned an Ireland recall in Andy Farrell’s Six Nations squad.
Jean Kleyn and Fineen Wycherley continue at second row, while there’s a new back row trio of Seán Edogbo, Ruadhán Quinn and Brian Gleeson (below).
Ethan Coughlan and JJ Hanrahan team up in the half-backs in the absence of Casey and Crowley, while Dan Kelly replaces Tom Farrell in the centre, partnering Alex Nankivell.
Thaakir Abrahams remains on the right wing, with Shane Daly moving to the left, as Ben O’Connor drops out to accommodate the return of Mike Haley at full-back.
Despite being without several key players, McMillan is confident he will see a reaction from his squad this week following their Champions Cup exit.
“At the front end of the week it was tough, as you would expect,” he said.
“But I think everyone left the building on Monday in a much better better space mentally and physically.
“We had a great training day yesterday I have every confidence that we’re going to go out and give a good of a good account of ourselves and we need it.
“The injection of some youth, we’ve got some consistency from last week, but the injection of some new bodies has brought a new energy.
“Despite the losses there’s been some components of our game that we feel have been trending in the right direction and playing at home, down in Cork, on artificial turf, is a good opportunity for us to take another step forward with it.”
Munster: Mike Haley; Thaakir Abrahams, Dan Kelly, Alex Nankivell, Shane Daly; JJ Hanrahan, Ethan Coughlan; Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron (capt), Michael Ala’alatoa; Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley; Seán Edogbo, Ruadhán Quinn, Brian Gleeson.
Replacements: Lee Barron, Josh Wycherley, Oli Jager, Evan O’Connell, Gavin Coombes, Paddy Patterson, Tony Butler, Diarmuid Kilgallen.
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