Ireland internationals Craig Casey and Jeremy Loughman have been named in the Munster squad for their BKT URC clash with Zebre tomorrow evening (7.35pm).
Scrum-half Casey started against Italy in round two of the Guinness Six Nations and prop Loughman came on as a replacement in the 36-0 win but neither featured against Wales last weekend.
Casey and Ireland training panellist Tom Ahern will start the game in Cork with Loughman among the replacements for the visit of the Italian side, who are 13th in the table.
Graham Rowntree includes four academy players with Tony Butler and Ruadhán Quinn starting, and Ethan Coughlan and Ben O’Connor, who returns from the Ireland Under-20s, on the bench.
Alex Kendellen captains the team with four changes to the side that beat Scarlets earlier this month.
There is a new half-back pairing of Butler and Casey as Josh Wycherley and John Ryan come into the front row.
Academy out-half Butler, who will move up to the senior squad on a two-year contract next season, and back-row forward Quinn both make their third starts for the province, who could move from ninth to fourth in the table should they claim a bonus-point win.
Mike Haley makes his 99th start for Munster at full-back with Seán O’Brien and Shane Daly on either wing.
Alex Nankivell and Antoine Frisch continue their centre partnership with Casey and Butler at 9 and 10.
Wycherley, Niall Scannell and Ryan pack down in the front row with Ahern and RG Snyman in the engine room.
Quinn, Kendellen and Gavin Coombes complete the side.
Eoghan Clarke, Loughman and Stephen Archer provide the front row back-up with Fineen Wycherley and Jack O’Sullivan completing the forward cover.
Coughlan, Rory Scannell and O’Connor are the backline replacements.
Joey Carbery picked up a slight knock in training and was unavailable for selection.
Munster: Mike Haley; Seán O'Brien, Antoine Frisch, Alex Nankivell, Shane Daly; Tony Butler, Craig Casey; Josh Wycherley, Niall Scannell, John Ryan; Tom Ahern, RG Snyman; Ruadhán Quinn , Alex Kendellen (capt), Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Eoghan Clarke, Jeremy Loughman, Stephen Archer, Fineen Wycherley, Jack O’Sullivan, Ethan Coughlan, Rory Scannell, Ben O’Connor.
Listen to the RTÉ Rugby podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Watch Cardiff v Leinster in the URC on Saturday from 7pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app.
Follow the RTÉ Sport WhatsApp channel for the best news, interviews, analysis and features, as well as details of our sports coverage across all RTÉ platforms.
