Munster team: Clayton McMillan swings axe with EIGHT changes as Ireland and Springbok stars return
Jean Kleyn and Oli Jager feature in Munster's squad against Benetton.
Munster have made eight changes to their line-up that lost to Exeter Chiefs in the Challenge Cup as they return to United Rugby Championship (URC) action against Benetton.
The widespread alterations from head coach Clayton McMillan come as an under-pressure Munster desperately fight to stay in the top eight positions of the standings.
They face a tough task on Saturday when facing a Test-heavy Italian side on their home turf of Stadio Comunale di Monigo, despite Benetton struggling in 12th position.
Eight changes
Munster‘s eight changes see Shane Daly, Calvin Nash, Andrew Smith, Diarmuid Barron, Michael Ala’alatoa, Jean Kleyn, Tom Ahern and John Hodnett come into the XV.
Falling out of last week’s team are Ben O’Connor, Thaakir Abrahams, Diarmuid Kilgallen, Alex Kendellen, Jack O’Donoghue, Edwin Edogbo, John Ryan and Lee Barron.
Nash, Barron and Kleyn return from injury for the crucial URC showdown with Benetton, along with replacements Brian Gleeson and Ireland international prop Oli Jager.
Daly, Nash and Smith start in the back three. The centre and half-back partnerships are unchanged as Alex Nankivell and Tom Farrell are paired in midfield with Craig Casey and Jack Crowley starting at nine and ten.
Jeremy Loughman, Barron and Michael Ala’alatoa pack down in the front-row with Kleyn and captain Tadhg Beirne in the engine room.
A back-row of Ahern, Hodnett and Gavin Coombes completes the side.
Lee Barron, Michael Milne and Jager are the front-row replacements with Edogbo, Gleeson and Kendellen completing the forward cover.
Academy scrum-half Ben O’Donovan and Dan Kelly are the backline replacements.
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Munster team to face Benetton
Munster: 15 Shane Daly, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Alex Nankivell, 11 Andrew Smith, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Craig Casey, 8 Gavin Coombes, 7 John Hodnett, 6 Tom Ahern, 5 Tadhg Beirne (c), 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Michael Ala’alatoa, 2 Diarmuid Barron, 1 Jeremy Loughman
Replacements: 16 Lee Barron, 17 Michael Milne, 18 Oli Jager, 19 Edwin Edogbo, 20 Brian Gleeson, 21 Ben O’Donovan, 22 Dan Kelly, 23 Alex Kendellen
Venue: Stadio Monigo, Treviso
Kick-off: 19.45 IRE & UK / 20.45 ITA & SA
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU, 114th league game)
Assistant referees: Andrea Piardi (FIR), Riccardo Bonato (FIR)
TMO: Keith David (WRU)
Live on: Sky Italia, TG4, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv
READ MORE: URC round 15: Predictions, teams, kick-off times, how to watch and referee appointments