Simmonds misses Thomond Park trip, Munster boosted by returning internationals

Munster host Exeter Chiefs at Thomond Park on Saturday (KO 3 pm) with the visitors holding a five-point advantage heading into the tie.

Sam Simmonds misses the second leg of the Champions Cup tie and is replaced in the starting line up by Jannes Kirsten with Jacques Vermeulen moving into the no.8 jersey.

That is the only change to the starting lineup for Rob Baxter's starting XV. There are further changes on the bench with Billy Keast replacing Ben Moon, Santiago Grondona filling Jannes Kirsten's spot on the bench while Harvey Skinner is replaced by Tom Hendrickson.

Meanwhile, Munster have been boosted by the return of Peter O’Mahony, Joey Carbery, and Simon Zebo as Head Coach Johann van Graan makes five changes to the team that lost 13-8 at Sandy Park last week.

O’Mahony (hamstring), Carbery (leg/knee) and Zebo (illness) were all unavailable last week. Mike Haley starts at full-back with Keith Earls and Zebo on either flank. Damian de Allende and Chris Farrell continue their centre partnership with Conor Murray and Carbery in the half-backs.

Josh Wycherley, Niall Scannell and John Ryan pack down in the front row with Jean Kleyn and Fineen Wycherley in the engine room.  It’s the first time the Wycherley brothers start together in Europe. O’Mahony, John Hodnett and Jack O’Donoghue complete the starting XV as a positional switch sees O’Donoghue move to no.8. Stephen Archer is among the replacements and in line to make his 50th Champions Cup appearance.

Diarmuid Barron has recovered from illness to join the squad with Alex Kendellen moving to the bench having completed the return to play protocols.

LINEUPS 

MUNSTER RUGBY

15. Mike Haley, 14. Keith Earls, 13. Chris Farrell, 12. Damian de Allende, 11. Simon Zebo, 10. Joey Carbery, 9. Conor Murray, 1. Josh Wycherley, 2. Niall Scannell, 3. John Ryan, 4. Jean Kleyn, 5. Fineen Wycherley, 6. Peter O'Mahony (c), 7. John Hodnett, 8. Jack O'Donoghue.

Replacements:

16. Diarmuid Barron, 17. Jeremy Loughman, 18. Stephen Archer, 19. Jason Jenkins, 20. Thomas Aherne, 21. Craig Casey, 22. Ben Healy, 23. Alex Kendellen,

EXETER CHIEFS


15. Stuart Hogg, 14. Olly Woodburn, 13. Henry Slade, 12. Ian Whitten, 11. Tom O'Flaherty, 10. Joe Simmonds, 9. Sam Maunder, 1. Alec Hepburn, 2. Jack Yeandle (c), 3. Harry Williams, 4. Jonny Gray, 5. Sam Skinner, 6. Dave Ewers, 7. Jannes Kirsten, 8. Jacques Vermeulen.

Replacements:
16. Jack Innard, 17. Billy Keast, 18. Patrick Schickerling, 19. Richard Capstick, 20. Santiago Grondona, 21. Jack Maunder, 22. Tom Gilbert-Hendrickson, 23. Josh Hodge,