Kilgallen returns as Costello makes five Munster changes for crucial Ulster clash

Stephen Archer and Peter O'Mahony start on their Thomond Park farewell, while Conor Murray is on the bench.

Munster speedster Diarmuid Kilgallen is back in the starting 15. Pic: James Crombie/Inpho

Munster and Ulster will welcome back some big guns to their starting line-ups for Friday night’s make-or-break URC derby at Limerick’s Thomond Park.

There are five changes to the home side with Jean Kleyn, John Hodnett and Diarmuid Kilgallen all returning to the frontline, as are Stephen Archer and Peter O’Mahony ahead of their expected final games at Thomond Park before retirement at the end of the season.

Ulster will have captain Ian Henderson in their pack for the interprovincial clash with Rob Baloucoune and Michael Lowry boosting their backline with both provinces needing a win to keep alive their hopes of an end-of-season play-off berth and the Champions Cup qualification spot that also comes with a top-eight finish.

All four Irish provinces lost their most recent URC games a fortnight ago, the first time that has happened since 2010, with Munster’s defeat at Cardiff leaving them in ninth and Ulster’s home loss to the Sharks sending them down to 12th in the standings with two rounds of the regular season left to play.

That makes a win this weekend crucial to knockout rugby ambitions and top-flight European rugby in 2025-26.

Munster will be without front-rowers Diarmuid Barron and Oli Jager due to knocks but do welcome back Archer at tighthead prop, Kleyn to the second row and flankers O’Mahony and Hodnett.

Mike Haley’s injury at Cardiff sees Kilgallen return on the wing as Thaakir Abrahams switches to full-back in a back three also featuring Calvin Nash with the backline otherwise unchanged as Tom Farrell and Alex Nankivell continue in the centres outside a half-back duo of Jack Crowley and Craig Casey.

Munster's Jack Crowley and Peter O’Mahony. Pic: Morgan Treacy/Inpho

In the forwards, Leinster loanee Michael Milne continues at loosehead prop following a debut last time out and ahead of his permanent move to Munster this summer. 

He forms a front row with hooker Niall Scannell and Archer.

Kleyn partners captain Tadhg Beirne in the second row with Gavin Coombes completing the back row at No.8.

Munster switch from a 5:3 split on the bench to six forwards and two backline replacements with Milne’s fellow Leinster loanee Lee Barron covering hooker and Josh Wycherley and John Ryan covering the prop positions. 

Fineen Wycherley, Tom Ahern and Alex Kendellen complete the forward replacements with Conor Murray and Seán O’Brien the backline replacements, scrum-half Murray is also set to bid farewell to Thomond Park ahead of a summer move overseas.

Ireland international Henderson returns from a hamstring injury to skipper Ulster from the second row alongside Cormac Izuchukwu while Baloucoune has recovered from his hamstring issue sustained against the Stormers on March 28 to take his place on the wing with Lowry cleared to start at full-back following a concussion against Leinster on April 19.

MUNSTER: T Abrahams; C Nash, T Farrell, A Nankivell, D Kilgallen; J Crowley, C Casey; M Milne, N Scannell, S Archer; J Kleyn, T Beirne - captain; P O'Mahony, J Hodnett, G Coombes.

Replacements: L Barron, J Wycherley, J Ryan, F Wycherley, T Ahern, C Murray, S O'Brien, A Kendellen.

ULSTER: M Lowry; R Baloucoune, J Postlethwaite, S McCloskey, J Stockdale, J Murphy, N Doak; A Warwick, R Herring, S Wilson, I Henderson - captain, C Izuchukwu; M Rea, N Timoney, J McNabney. 

Replacements: T Stewart, C Reid, T O’Toole, A O’Connor, D McCann, D Shanahan, S Moore, W Kok.