Nash returns as McMillan makes six changes to Munster side for Ospreys clash

Calvin Nash of Munster warms up. Pic: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile

Calvin Nash returns from a 10-week injury lay-off to start for Munster’s URC resumption at Ospreys on Saturday as Clayton McMillan makes six changes from the side which bat Gloucester in the Champions Cup last time out.

Ireland wing Nash injured his shoulder on October 18 in the home URC win over Edinburgh while lock Fineen Wycherley also returns from injury after a cut hand against Bath forced him out of last Saturday’s 31-3 pool win at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. 

Loosehead prop Jeremy Loughman, flanker Alex Kendellen, scrum-half Paddy Patterson and outside centre Tom Farrell also move into the starting 15 for the round seven match at Bridgend’s Brewery Field.

Craig Casey and club captain Tadhg Beirne are omitted from the trip to west Wales as head coach McMillan’s begins to rest his Ireland internationals through the three-game Christmas and New Year schedule under IRFU player welfare guidelines with Jack O’Donoghue named skipper for this Saturday’s away fixture.

There are two positional switches from last weekend with O’Donoghue moving from openside to blindside flanker to make way for Kendellen while Nash’s return on the right wing sees Shane Daly shifted to the left wing as Ben O’Connor drops out of a back three that retains Mike Haley at full-back.

Farrell partners Alex Nankivell in midfield having replaced Dan Kelly at number 13 with the summer signing from Leicester Tigers ruled out with a calf injury while Patterson partners fly-half Jack Crowley in the half-backs.

Loughman’s inclusion at loosehead sees Michael Milne drop to the bench from a front row that also features Niall Scannell and Michael Ala’alatoa. Wycherley joins Jean Kleyn in the second-row while Gavin Coombes continues at No.8.

With hooker Diarmuid Barron unavailable following a failed Head Injury Assessment following his appearance off the bench at Pairc ui Chaoimh last Saturday, the back-up role to starter Scannell switches to Lee Barron.

McMillan has named a six-two split between forwards and backs on the bench with Conor Bartley covering tighthead after an impressive cameo late on for his European debut. Edwin Edogbo, Tom Ahern and John Hodnett are the other covering forwards while Ethan Coughlan and JJ Hanrahan are the two backline replacements.

MUNSTER (v Ospreys): Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Shane Daly; Jack Crowley, Paddy Patterson; Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, Michael Ala’alatoa; Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley; Jack O’Donoghue - captain, Alex Kendellen, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Lee Barron, Michael Milne, Conor Bartley, Edwin Edogbo, Tom Ahern, Ethan Coughlan, JJ Hanrahan, John Hodnett.