Rowntree includes Coombes and Conway in strong Munster squad to face Leinster in pre-season opener

BACK IN RED: Gavin Coombes. Pic: ©INPHO/Ben Brady

Munster head coach Graham Rowntree has included Gavin Coombes and injury returnee Andrew Conway in his starting 15 for the province's pre-season fixture against Leinster at Musgrave Park this Friday night (Kick-off, 6pm).

Coombes and winger Calvin Nash, both culled from Andy Farrell's Irish squad prior to the World Cup, start in what is a strong Munster outfit. Coombes won't wear his usual No. 8, however, as he is named alongside fellow West Cork native Fineen Wycherley in the second-row.

Conway - who missed last season due to a long-term injury - partners Nash and the enigmatic Simon Zebo in the backfield.

Neil Cronin and up-and-coming playmaker Tony Butler form the half-back axis, while Rory Scannell and versatile back Shane Daly make up the midfield partnership.

Jack O'Donoghue will captain the side from blindside flanker, where he is joined by John Hodnett and Alex Kendellen.

Scott Buckley will be flanked by props Stephen Archer and Josh Wycherley in the front-row. John Ryan is among the Munster replacements, having returned to the province after plying his trade with Super Rugby outfit, the Chiefs, in the first half of 2023.

In total, seven academy players are involved as trio Kieran Ryan, Evan O’Connell and Shay McCarthy are set for their first senior appearances off the bench.

Munster: S Zebo; A Conway, S Daly, R Scannell, C Nash; T Butler, N Cronin; J Wycherley, S Buckley, S Archer; G Coombes, F Wycherley; J O’Donoghue, J Hodnett, A Kendellen.

Replacements: C Moore, K Ryan, J Ryan, E O’Connell, J Daly, R Quinn, E Coughlan, F Gibbons, S Kiely, S McCarthy.