Munster Changes 11 Players for Argentina A Clash at Thomond Park

Jack O’Donoghue will lead a revamped Munster side as they face Argentina A at Thomond Park on Saturday. Head coach Clayton McMillan has made a significant shift, introducing 11 changes from the squad that secured a 17-15 victory against Connacht last week. This win marked Munster’s fifth consecutive league triumph, maintaining an unbeaten start to the current URC season.

With several players away for the November Test window, McMillan is keen to enhance the experience of his broader squad. Among the notable inclusions is academy tighthead prop Ronan Foxe, who will earn his first senior start alongside Josh Wycherley and Lee Barron in the front row. Lock Conor Ryan will also make his senior debut, partnering with Evan O’Connell, who is set to make his first start of the season after appearing in the recent derby match.

O’Donoghue will captain the team from the blindside flanker position. He will be joined in the back row by Gavin Coombes, who retains the No.8 jersey, and Ruadhán Quinn, stepping in at openside. The half-back pairing features Paddy Patterson and Tony Butler, while Seán O’Brien starts at inside centre alongside Fionn Gibbons, who will also make his first start for Munster in his third appearance.

On the wings, Diarmuid Kilgallen continues after scoring a try on his return from an ankle injury, while Shay McCarthy is rewarded for a strong performance last week. The full-back position will see the return of Mike Haley.

The bench includes four academy players: hooker Max Clein, back-rower Luke Murphy, scrum-half Jake O’Riordan, who debuted against Connacht, and Ben O’Connor. Both Clein and Murphy could make their first senior appearances, bringing the total number of players utilized by McMillan this season to 47.

Several key players are unavailable for this fixture. Tadhg Beirne, Jack Crowley, and Craig Casey are set to compete against New Zealand in Chicago, while Tom Ahern and Tom Farrell are part of the Ireland squad for the November Tests. Additionally, Jean Kleyn has joined the South African team for their European tour.

Injuries also impact the Munster squad, with Thaakir Abrahams and Niall Scannell entering return-to-play protocols following head injuries sustained against Connacht, and flanker John Hodnett sidelined due to a foot injury.

Assistant coach Mossy Lawler expressed excitement for the match, noting the historical significance of Munster’s encounters against international teams. He highlighted the importance of the atmosphere at Thomond Park, stating, “It’s something to just get really excited about… Some of these guys who play on Saturday may never ever get an opportunity to play against an international team again.”

This match marks the first meeting between Munster and Argentina since a draw in Limerick in 1973, further adding to the anticipation surrounding Saturday’s game.

The Munster lineup for the match against Argentina A is as follows:

M Haley; D Kilgallen, F Gibbons, S O’Brien, S McCarthy; T Butler, P Patterson; J Wycherley, L Barron, R Foxe; C Ryan, E O’Connell; J O’Donoghue (c), R Quinn, G Coombes.

Replacements: M Clein, M Donnelly, K Ryan, F Wycherley, L Murphy, J O’Riordan, JJ Hanrahan, B O’Connor.