TEAM | Crowley named at outside centre as Earls and Murray to start against Northampton

Jack Crowley, Keith Earls, Conor Murray and Jack O’Donoghue come into the side with captain Peter O’Mahony moving to openside flanker.

The Munster side has been named for Sunday’s Champions Cup clash away to Northampton Saints at Franklin’s Gardens (1pm, live on BT Sport).

Hooker Niall Scannell starts on his 150^th Munster appearance with four personnel changes and one positional switch following last weekend’s clash against Toulouse.

Jack Crowley, Keith Earls, Conor Murray and Jack O’Donoghue come into the side with captain Peter O’Mahony moving to openside flanker.

Crowley, who has just signed a two-year contract extension, starts for Munster at inside centre for the first time and forms a new midfield partnership with Antoine Frisch.

Earls makes his second start of the season on the left wing and joins Mike Haley and Calvin Nash in the back three.

Murray partners Joey Carbery in the half-backs.

The front five is unchanged with Jeremy Loughman, Scannell and John Ryan in the front row as Jean Kleyn and Tadhg Beirne start in the second row.

O’Donoghue, who has also signed a new two-year contract, O’Mahony and Gavin Coombes complete the starting XV.

Dave Kilcoyne comes into the squad among the replacements and is in line to make his first appearance since October.

Find out all you need to know ahead of the game here.

On the ticket front, Munster v Leinster on St Stephen’s Day has sold-out but tickets are available for the return fixture against Northampton Saints on Saturday, January 14 (3.15pm). See full details here.

Munster: Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Antoine Frisch, Jack Crowley, Keith Earls; Joey Carbery, Conor Murray; Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, John Ryan; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne; Jack O’Donoghue, Peter O’Mahony (C), Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Dave Kilcoyne, Roman Salanoa, John Hodnett, Alex Kendellen, Craig Casey, Rory Scannell, Shane Daly.