Seán O’Brien handed first start in Munster midfield

O'Brien has been handed the inside centre reins for the first time by Graham Rowntree, a position he frequented during his time at Premiership outfit Exeter Chiefs.

FAMILIAR SURROUNDINGS: Munster's Sean O'Brien has been handed the inside centre reins for the first time by Graham Rowntree. Pic: Ben Brady, Inpho

Seán O’Brien is set for his first start in the Munster midfield against the Lions on Saturday in the only change to the URC champions’ line-up from last weekend’s historic win at the Bulls.

Graham Rowntree’s squad was due to leave Cape Town on Friday to fly to Johannesburg ahead of the Ellis Park clash as they bid to close in on a top-four finish in the standings that will earn them a home quarter-final draw in the end of season play-offs.

Their 27-22 bonus-point win at Loftus Versfeld last Saturday moved them above the Bulls into third place with four games of the regular season remaining but appears to have come at a cost with regular inside centre starter Alex Nankivell absent from the team announced by Munster on Friday.

They have a ready-made replacement in O’Brien, a summer signing from Exter Chiefs who was brought in as a centre but has yet to start there in 15 appearances for the province. 

Utilised as a wing this season with Nankivell forging a successful midfield partnership alongside Antoine Frisch, O’Brien has now been handed an opportunity at number 12 outside of half-back pairing Jack Crowley and Conor Murray.

Full-back Simon Zebo and wingers Calvin Nash and Shane Daly complete the backline as they continue in the back three with another number 15, Mike Haley, named among the replacements as Rowntree switches from a six-two split between forwards and backs to a more orthodox five-three division.

Back-rower John Hodnett is the forward to be sidelined, having picked up a leg injury with Haley providing backline options alongside fly-half Joey Carbery and scrum-half Craig Casey, who has completed his return to play protocols following a Head Injury Assessment during the Bulls game.

The pack is unchanged with a front row of Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell and Stephen Archer, making his 280th Munster appearance having become the province’s most-capped player earlier in the season after surpassing Donncha O’Callaghan.

RG Snyman and captain Tadhg Beirne continue in the second row with Peter O’Mahony, Alex Kendellen and No.8 Jack O’Donoghue forming the back row.

MUNSTER: S Zebo; C Nash, A Frisch, S O’Brien, S Daly; J Crowley, C Murray; J Loughman, N Scannell, S Archer; RG Snyman, T Beirne - captain; P O’Mahony, A Kendellen, J O’Donoghue.

Replacements: E Clarke, J Wycherley, O Jager, T Ahern, G Coombes, C Casey, J Carbery, M Haley.