TEAM | Munster make six changes for Lions with Jack O’Donoghue to captain the side

Munster seek to continue their winning start to the year when they host the Lions on Friday in Cork.

The Munster team has been named for Friday night’s vital URC clash against Emirates Lions at Musgrave Park (7.35pm).

There are six personnel changes and three positional switches to the side that beat Ulster in Belfast four days ago.

Jack O’Donoghue captains the side and makes his 15th appearance of the campaign having featured in every game so far this season.

Rory Scannell, Liam Coombes, Ben Healy, Josh Wycherley, Diarmuid Barron and John Hodnett are all drafted into the starting XV.

Malakai Fekitoa moves to outside centre as Gavin Coombes joins the second row and Alex Kendellen moves to no.8.

Mike Haley starts at full-back with Shane Daly and Coombes on either flank. Coombes makes his first appearance since September after recently returning from injury.

Scannell and Fekitoa start in midfield with Paddy Patterson and Healy resuming their half-back partnership having last started together against South Africa A at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Wycherley, Barron and Roman Salanoa start in the front row with Jean Kleyn and Gavin Coombes in the engine room.

Captain Jack O’Donoghue, Hodnett and Kendellen complete the side.

Greencore Munster Rugby Academy duo Cian Hurley and Patrick Campbell are included on the bench.

Dan Goggin joins the replacements and is in line for his first appearance since September.

Munster: Mike Haley; Shane Daly, Malakai Fekitoa, Rory Scannell, Liam Coombes; Ben Healy, Paddy Patterson; Josh Wycherley, Diarmuid Barron, Roman Salanoa; Jean Kleyn, Gavin Coombes; Jack O’Donoghue (C), John Hodnett, Alex Kendellen.

Replacements: Scott Buckley, Dave Kilcoyne, Stephen Archer, Cian Hurley, Jack O’Sullivan, Conor Murray, Dan Goggin, Patrick Campbell.