Munster's Brian Gleeson handed first Champions Cup start

Front-row concerns have been eased by the return of Dave Kilcoyne and Oli Jager to the matchday 23.

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS: Munster's Brian Gleeson dives for the try line. Pic: James Lawlor/Inpho

Brian Gleeson is set for his first Champions Cup start when Munster visit Castres on Friday night in their second-round pool fixture at Stade Pierre Fabre.

It will be the former Ireland under-20 back-rower's seasonal debut and is one of six changes to the starting team which faced Stade Francais at Thomond Park last Saturday in Munster’s European opener.

Interim head coach Ian Costello had suggested he would rotate his squad for the trip to Castres given the six-day turnaround between pool games and has been true to his word with this selection as he bids to make it two wins from two following the 33-7 bonus-point win over Stade.

Captain Tadhg Beirne is restored to the second row alongside Fineen Wycherley, hooker Niall Scannell and tighthead prop Stephen Archer to the front row with Dian Bleuler retained at loosehead, while openside flanker John Hodnett joins No.8 Gleeson as a fresh face in a back row which also features Peter O’Mahony.

The sole change to the Munster backline sees Mike Haley return at full-back in a back three with wings Calvin Nash and Thaakir Abrahams, who line up outside centre pairing Alex Nankivell and Tom Farrell with Craig Casey and Jack Crowley continuing as the half-back partnership.

There are also changes to the bench with veteran loosehead prop Dave Kilcoyne poised for his first game in almost 12 months after shoulder and ankle injuries. 

The Ireland international is part of a bench of six forwards which also includes the return of tighthead prop Oli Jager following a two-month absence with a neck injury.

Last week’s captain Diarmuid Barron completes the replacement front row while Tom Ahern, Alex Kendellen and Jack O’Donoghue complete the forward cover and Paddy Patterson and Rory Scannell cover the backline.

MUNSTER: M Haley; C Nash, T Farrell, A Nankivell, T Abrahams; J Crowley, C Casey; D Bleuler, N Scannell, S Archer; F Wycherley, T Beirne - captain; P O’Mahony, J Hodnett, B Gleeson.

Replacements: D Barron, D Kilcoyne, O Jager, T Ahern, A Kendellen, P Patterson, R Scannell, J O’Donoghue.