Frisch starts as Munster make three changes for Ospreys

Antoine Frisch is one of three changes to Munster’s side for Friday night’s BKT United Rugby Championship meeting with the Ospreys at Thomond Park (live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player).

The centre missed out on last weekend’s win over Ulster due to injury, but slots back into midfield where he replaces Rory Scannell, who picked up a season-ending ankle injury in the 29-24 win.

The other two changes made by head coach Graham Rowntree come in the back row, where Gavin Coombes and John Hodnett both start, having played off the bench last week. They come in for Jack O’Donoghue and Alex Kendellen, both of whom are included among the replacements.

An experienced front row trio of Stephen Archer, Niall Scannell and Jeremy Loughman are retained, while Tadhg Beirne captains the side from the second row where he is joined by RG Snyman, who avoided a citing this week following a head-contact on Ulster’s Will Addison last week.

Craig Casey and Jack Crowley team up in the half-backs for the fourth game in a row, while Frisch’s return to the 13 shirt sees Seán O’Brien move to inside centre.

Calvin Nash and Shane Daly are on the wings as usual, while Simon Zebo stars at full-back, hoping to prolong his retirement by at least one more week.

The province were hit by injury blows this week, but there’s positive news with hooker Diarmuid Barron returning from a five-month layoff on the bench, joining Oli Jager and John Ryan in an impactful front row.

With no out and out second row on the bench, that responsibility will likely fall on Coombes if needed, while Conor Murray, Tony Butler and Mike Haley complete the matchday squad.

Ospreys head coach Toby Booth has stuck largely with the same formula from his side’s bonus-point win over Cardiff last weekend, making just one change to his starting team.

The only alteration comes at out-half, where Owen Williams comes in for the injured Dan Edwards.

Munster: Simon Zebo; Calvin Nash, Antoine Frisch, Seán O’Brien, Shane Daly; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; RG Snyman, Tadhg Beirne (capt); Peter O’Mahony, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, John Ryan, Oli Jager, Jack O’Donoghue, Alex Kendellen, Conor Murray, Tony Butler, Mike Haley.

Ospreys: Max Nagy, Luke Morgan, Owen Watkin, Keiran Williams, Keelan Giles, Owen Williams, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Nicky Smith, Dewi Lake, Tom Botha, James Ratti, Huw Sutton, Jac Morgan, Justin Tipuric (capt), Morgan Morris

Replacements: Sam Parry, Gareth Thomas, Rhys Henry, Victor Sekekete, Morgan Morse, Luke Davies, Luke Scully, Harri Houston

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Watch Munster v Ospreys in the URC on Friday from 7pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to commentary on RTÉ Radio 1 Extra.

Follow a live blog of Leinster v Ulster (Saturday 5pm) on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to updates on RTÉ Radio 1