Thaakir Abrahams will wing it for Munster in Saturday’s top-of-the-table Vodacom URC match against the Stormers in Limerick.
The former Sharks flyer, who has made 16 appearances and scored four tries for the Irish giants, starts in a back three featuring Shane Daly and Diarmuid Kilgallen for the round-six blockbuster.
Munster have also welcomed back five Ireland internationals following the November Tests, including captain Tadhg Beirne, who was named in World Rugby’s Dream Team of the Year this week.
Beirne joins Jack O’Donoghue and Gavin Coombes in a powerful back row, while Tom Ahern and Fineen Wycherley pack down in the second row. Wycherley has been an ever-present for Munster this season, starting all five URC matches and missing just 19 minutes of action.
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Tom Farrell returns from Ireland duty to partner Alex Nankivell in midfield, with Craig Casey and Jack Crowley reunited in the halfbacks.
Up front, Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron and John Ryan form the starting front row.
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MUNSTER – 15 Shane Daly, 14 Diarmuid Kilgallen, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Alex Nankivell, 11 Thaakir Abrahams, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Craig Casey, 8 Gavin Coombes, 7 Jack O’Donoghue, 6 Tadhg Beirne (c), 5 Fineen Wycherley, 4 Tom Ahern, 3 John Ryan, 2 Diarmuid Barron, 1 Jeremy Loughman.
Bench: 16 Niall Scannell, 17 Michael Milne, 18 Ronan Foxe, 19 Edwin Edogbo, 20 John Hodnett, 21 Ethan Coughlan, 22 Tony Butler, 23 Dan Kelly.
Photo: Seb Daly/Sportsfile via Getty Images
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