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No Keith Earls in Munster side for Ospreys European tie

Munster will have to do without Keith Earls and Jean Kleyn for their crucial Heineken European Ch...



Munster will have to do without Keith Earls and Jean Kleyn for their crucial Heineken European Champions Cup tie against Ospreys at Thomond Park on Sunday.

Calvin Nash will make his European debut while Fineen Wycherley returns to the second row alongside Billy Holland. Peter O'Mahony will skipper the side in the back row alongside CJ Stander and Jack O’Donoghue.

Earls suffered a minor knee injury in training, ruling him out.

Dave Kilcoyne starts on his landmark 50th Champions Cup appearance in a front row alongside Niall Scannell and Stephen Archer.

Mike Haley starts at full-back with Andrew Conway and Nash on either flank.

Conor Murray and JJ Hanrahan are in the half-backs with a centre partnership of Rory Scannell and Chris Farrell.

Permutations

Johann van Graan's side have an outside chance of qualifying for the last eight, but a bonus-point win is essential before other factors can come into consideration.

One of those outside factors is a beleaguered by controversy Saracens side losing to table-toppers Racing. Saracens have named a strong side for that clash, while there is no space for Teddy Thomas in the Racing team.

As well as a Racing win, Munster also need at least two of the following instances to happen:

In Pool one, Lyon must beat Northampton, in France, this is not inconceivable. Glasgow have to lose without a bonus point in Sale, while a win for Toulouse in Pool five against Gloucester would also help Munster's cause.

Team in Full

Munster: Mike Haley; Andrew Conway, Chris Farrell, Rory Scannell, Calvin Nash; JJ Hanrahan, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; Fineen Wycherley, Billy Holland; Peter O’Mahony (C), Jack O’Donoghue, CJ Stander.

Replacements: Kevin O’Byrne, Jeremy Loughman, John Ryan, Arno Botha, Jack O’Sullivan, Craig Casey, Ben Healy, Dan Goggin.

Everyone’s in the Team Of Us.

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European Heineken Champions Cup Munster Ospreys Racing