Jack O’Donoghue to captain side as Munster team to play South Africa XV named

Sell-out game will see more than 40,000 attend Páirc Uí Chaoimh

Munster's Jack O'Donoghue. Photograph: Dan Sheridan/Inpho
Munster's Jack O'Donoghue. Photograph: Dan Sheridan/Inpho

The Munster team has been named for Thursday’s clash against South Africa Select XV at Páirc Uí Chaoimh (7.30pm, live on Virgin Media Two).

The sell-out game will see 41,400 supporters make their way to Páirc Uí Chaoimh for the biggest attendance at a rugby game in the province.

There are seven changes to the side that faced Ulster at Thomond Park last time out. Jack O’Donoghue captains Munster with three academy players named in the squad.

Edwin Edogbo keeps his place in the second row with Cian Hurley and Patrick Campbell among the replacements.

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Antoine Frisch makes his first start for Munster after recovering from a calf injury suffered on the Emerging Ireland tour to South Africa.

Kiran McDonald partners Edogbo in the second row on his first Munster appearance after joining on a short-term deal last month.

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Simon Zebo, Ben Healy, Josh Wycherley, Roman Salanoa and Gavin Coombes also come into the starting XV.

Mike Haley starts at full-back with Shane Daly and Zebo on either flank.

Rory Scannell and Frisch form the centre partnership for the first time with Paddy Patterson and Healy in the half-backs.

Wycherley, Diarmuid Barron and Salanoa pack down in the front row with Edogbo and McDonald in the engine room.

O’Donoghue, John Hodnett and Coombes complete the side.

Rory Scannell and Niall Scannell are the only two players in this squad who played in Munster’s last game against a touring side, the Maori All Blacks, in 2016.

Munster: Mike Haley; Shane Daly, Antoine Frisch, Rory Scannell, Simon Zebo; Ben Healy, Paddy Patterson; Josh Wycherley, Diarmuid Barron, Roman Salanoa; Edwin Edogbo, Kiran McDonald; Jack O’Donoghue (C), John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Niall Scannell, Liam O’Connor, Keynan Knox, Cian Hurley, Alex Kendellen, Neil Cronin, Patrick Campbell, Malakai Fekitoa.