Tadhg Beirne returns as McMillan makes 10 changes for Challenge Cup meeting with Exeter Chiefs 

Scrum-half Ben O’Donovan in line for his Munster debut after joining from Canterbury in February. 

EURO JOURNEY: Tadhg Beirne of Munster in action against Castres Olympique. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Clayton McMillan has made 10 changes to the Munster side beaten narrowly at URC rivals Bulls last weekend as Tadhg Beirne returns to captain the province in this Saturday’s Challenge Cup Round of 16 clash at Exeter Chiefs.

Ireland half-backs Craig Casey and Jack Crowley, academy full-back Ben O’Connor, inside centre Alex Nankivell and openside flanker Alex Kendellen are the five players retained from the 34-31 loss in South Africa. Hooker Diarmuid Barron, wing Calvin Nash and back-rower Brian Gleeson were all ruled out through injury after sustaining concussions at Loftus Versfeld while last Saturday’s starting locks Fineen Wycherley and Jean Kleyn are also unavailable due to knee and ankle injuries.

There is also a potential debut for new Irish-qualified signing and former New Zealand Under-20 scrum-half Ben O’Donovan, named as a replacement having joined from Canterbury in February.

Wings Thaakir Abrahams and Diarmuid Kilgallen will be the starting wings at Sandy Park while Tom Farrell is restored at outside centre alongside Nankivell, who is set to make his 50th appearance for Munster in what will be his 46th start since joining from the Chiefs in September 2023.

Edwin Edogbo and captain Beirne are named in the second row in place of Kleyn and Wycherley, with Jeremy Loughman, Lee Barron and John Ryan the starting front row while Jack O’Donoghue and Gavin Coombes join Kendellen in the back row, No.8 Coombes having recovered from an illness which forced his withdrawal from the Munster bench in Pretoria last weekend.

Niall Scannell, Michael Milne and Michael Ala’alatoa provide the front row cover with Tom Ahern, Ruadhan Quinn and John Hodnett completing the forward replacements with O’Donovan and Seán O’Brien covering the backline on a 6:2 bench.

MUNSTER (v Exeter Chiefs): Ben O’Connor; Thaakir Abrahams, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Diarmuid Kilgallen; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Lee Barron, John Ryan; Edwin Edogbo, Tadhg Beirne - captain; Jack O’Donoghue, Alex Kendellen, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Niall Scannell, Michael Milne, Michael Ala’alatoa, Tom Ahern, Ruadhán Quinn, Ben O’Donovan, Seán O’Brien, John Hodnett.