Munster

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Munster's interim head coach Ian Costello hailed the performance of centre Tom Farrell after his side beat Ulster 22-19 in Kingspan Stadium.

The summer signing from Connacht scored a hat-trick, including the winning try in the game's final minute, to help the southern province past Ulster who had prop Tom O'Toole sent off in the 31st minute.

"I can't stress enough how good Tom has been for us this season, he's played so many minutes," said Costello, whose side jumped from 11th to fifth in the United Rugby Championship [URC] table with the win.

"We were joking that he's played his quota from last season and we're not even halfway through yet.

"He's been brilliant on and off the pitch, but tonight was definitely his best on-pitch performance."

The 31-year-old has played all but 13 minutes of Munster's season so far, although will be asked to go again against Leinster on 27 December after his centre partner Alex Nankivell was injured in the incident that brought O'Toole's dismissal.

"He would have been looking for a rest soon, but Alex is going to get the next rest," added Costello.

"His hamstring isn't great after that clearout, so Tom will go another week and we'll give him a few days off after Christmas then."

Munster hooker Niall Scannell described Farrell's form as "unbelievable" since his switch to Thomond Park.

"Every time he touched the ball he was just a go-forward machine, but he's a hugely popular addition to the squad," he said.

"He's been unbelievable and I think you can see [that] when he gets on the front foot, with his skill set and particularly his handling game, he's just feeding fellas around him."

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Fit-again John Cooney has returned for Ulster's United Rugby Championship game against Munster on Friday (19:35 GMT), while academy fly-half Jack Murphy could make his debut off the bench.

Ireland Under-20 international Murphy, the son of head coach Richie Murphy, joined the Ulster academy from Leinster earlier this year.

The 20-year-old started all five of Ireland's games in this year's Under-20 Six Nations.

Scrum-half Cooney, who missed Ulster's Investec Champions Cup losses to Toulouse and Bordeaux, is recalled to partner Aidan Morgan in the half-backs.

There are four changes in the forwards. Andrew Warwick replaces Eric O'Sullivan at loosehead prop, Alan O'Connor deputises for injured captain Iain Henderson in the second row while James McNabney and Marcus Rea are recalled to the back row.

Zac Ward is retained on the left wing after making his debut in last week's defeat by Bordeaux.

As well as Henderson, Ulster are without Cormac Izuchukwu, Nathan Doak, Ben Carson, Stewart Moore and Jacob Stockdale.

Munster make six changes to the side that lost to Castres in Europe last weekend with Shane Daly, Paddy Patterson, John Ryan, Tom Ahern, Jack O'Donoghue and Gavin Coombes all recalled.

Ireland forwards Peter O'Mahony and Tadhg Beirne are not involved for Munster who, like Ulster, have three wins and four defeats in this season's URC.

Ulster: Michael Lowry; Werner Kok, Jude Postlethwaite, Stuart McCloskey, Zac Ward; Aidan Morgan, John Cooney; Andrew Warwick, Rob Herring, Tom O'Toole; Alan O'Connor (capt), Kieran Treadwell; James McNabney, Marcus Rea, David McCann.

Replacements: John Andrew, Eric O'Sullivan, Scott Wilson, Harry Sheridan, Matty Rea, Dave Shanahan, Jack Murphy, Rory Telfer.

Munster: Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Shane Daly; Jack Crowley, Paddy Patterson; John Ryan, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; Tom Ahern, Fineen Wycherley; Jack O'Donoghue (capt), John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Eoghan Clarke, Dave Kilcoyne, Oli Jager, Evan O'Connell, Alex Kendellen, Ethan Coughlan, Rory Scannell, Brian Gleeson.

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Ulster have a long list of injury doubts for Friday night's United Rugby Championship encounter against Irish rivals Munster at Kingspan Stadium.

Iain Henderson, Cormac Izuchukwu, Nick Timoney, Werner Kok, Nathan Doak and Aidan Morgan all picked up injuries in the Investec Champions Cup defeat by Bordeaux on Saturday.

Ulster said on Monday that the six players will be "monitored through training this week to ascertain their fitness to play in Friday's fixture".

Ben Carson and Stewart Moore, who were injured in Ulster's opening Champions Cup game against Toulouse, are "ongoing doubts" for the inter-provincial showdown.

However, there was some good news for Ulster with scrum-half John Cooney available for selection after resuming full team training.

Munster's weekend defeat by Castres also came at a cost with Craig Casey needing surgery after he sustained a meniscus injury.

Thaakir Abrahams dislocated his shoulder and will have scans to determine whether he requires surgery.

Dian Bleuler was removed after failing his head injury assessment and is following the return-to-play protocols while Diarmuid Barron passed his HIA and will be monitored following a shoulder injury.

Peter O'Mahony is a doubt with a calf contusion and Jean Kleyn is seeing a specialist for a thigh injury.

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Brian Gleeson has been handed his first Investec Champions Cup start for Munster as the Irish province make six changes to their starting team for Friday's Pool 3 game against Castres at Stade Pierre-Fabre.

The back row will be making his 11th appearance for Munster and his first start of the season.

The other changes from the side which began Saturday's 33-7 win over Stade Francais in round one see Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer, captain Tadhg Beirne, John Hodnett and Mike Haley all come in.

Beirne is named in the the team after coming on as a replacement at Thomond Park last week.

Prop Dave Kilcoyne returns after long-term injury to take his place on the bench, alongside Oli Jager, whose last match was against the Ospreys in the United Rugby Championship in early October.

Castres lost 38-8 away to Northampton Saints in their first match of their campaign last weekend.

Munster: Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Thaakir Abrahams; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Dian Bleuler, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; Fineen Wycherley, Tadhg Beirne (C); Peter O'Mahony, John Hodnett, Brian Gleeson.

Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Dave Kilcoyne, Oli Jager, Tom Ahern, Alex Kendellen, Paddy Patterson, Rory Scannell, Jack O'Donoghue.

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Investec European Champions Cup: Munster v Stade Francais

Venue: Thomond Park, Limerick Date: Saturday, 7 December Kick-off: 17:30 GMT

Coverage: Team news, score updates and match report on the BBC Sport website

Evan O'Connell is set to make his first Investec Champions Cup appearance in Saturday's Pool 3 opener against Stade Francais at Thomond Park.

The 20-year-old, who is the nephew of former Munster, Ireland and Lions captain Paul O'Connell, will start at lock in Limerick.

The Irish hosts have made five changes to the side that defeated Lions in the United Rugby Championship last weekend.

Shane Daly comes in at full-back for what will be his 100th appearance for Munster.

Four Ireland players return from international duty with Calvin Nash, Jack Crowley, Craig Casey and Peter O'Mahony starting while Tadhg Beirne is among the replacements.

Diarmuid Barron will captain the side in the Champions Cup for the first time.

Short-term signing Dian Bleuler, Tom Farrell and Thaakir Abrahams will play their first game for Munster in the competition.

Bill Burns is on the bench and will also make his Champions Cup bow for Munster if he is introduced to the action.

Munster: Daly; Nash, Farrell, Nankivell, Abrahams; Crowley, Casey; Bleuler, Barron (capt), J Ryan; O'Connell, Wycherley; O'Mahony, Kendellen, Coombes.

Replacements: Scannell, K Ryan, Archer, Beirne, Hodnett, Patterson, Burns, O'Donoghue.

Stade Francais: Jonas; Laloi, Marchant, Boudehent, Ezeala; Henry, Motassi; Castets, Peyresblanques, Kodela; Azagoh, Pesenti; Huguet, Chapuis (capt), Tanga.

Replacements: Petriashvili, M Alo-Emile, P Alo-Emile, Turagacoke, Timo, Scelzo, Foursans-Bourdette, Carbonel.

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Loose-head prop Dian Bleuler will make his Munster debut against the Lions at Thomond Park on Saturday night.

The 25-year-old South African, who has United Rugby Championship [URC] experience with the Sharks, was signed to a short-term deal last week to ease the province's injury concerns in the front-row.

The game is the first competitive fixture for Munster since former head coach Graham Rowntree left the side after three straight defeats, with interim boss Ian Costello taking charge of a URC game for the first time.

He has given a league debut to Evan O'Connell, nephew of former Munster captain Paul O'Connell, in the second-row.

The 20-year-old came off the bench in Munster's exhibition defeat to an All Blacks XV this month.

Centre Alex Nankivell and wing Thaakir Abraham both make their returns from injury with Munster looking to improve on their 12th place in the standings.

Munster: Haley; McCarthy, Farrell, Nankivell, Abrahams; Burns, Coughlan; Bleuler, Barron, J Ryan; O’Connell, Wycherley; O’Donoghue, Kendellen, Coombes.

Replacements: Scannell, K Ryan, Archer, Quinn, Hodnett, Patterson, Butler, Daly.

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Ireland forwards coach Paul O'Connell has ruled himself out of taking over the vacant head coach position at Munster Rugby.

The former Munster captain won a pair of Heineken Cups and three league titles as a player at Thomond Park.

Former England prop Graham Rowntree left his position as Munster head coach in October after three consecutive United Rugby Championship [URC] defeats.

The 45-year-old O'Connell had been one of the names linked as his successor but said he will not be taking the position "in the short term" as he continues to prepare Ireland for their final Test match of the year against Australia on Saturday.

“No, I have no interest in it,” he said.

“Certainly in the short term, anyway. I just hope they get the right man.”

Two of Rowntree's assistants, Denis Leamy and Mike Prendergast, signed contact extensions until 2027 this week, but there has been no announcement on who will head up the ticket moving forward, while forwards coach Andi Kyriacou also left the province last week.

Head of rugby operations Ian Costello is currently acting as head coach on an interim basis, while Alex Codling has been brought in as forwards coach consultant until the end of season but will also remain in his current role as forwards coach for the Ireland women's team.

Munster host the Lions in URC action on Saturday evening.

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Munster forwards coach Andi Kyriacou has left the Irish province with immediate effect, the club has announced.

His departure, said to be for family reasons, comes after head coach Graham Rowntree's surprise exit in late October.

Former Munster hooker Kyriacou joined as an elite player development officer in 2021 and in his first season as forwards coach in 2022-23, the club secured the United Rugby Championship (URC) title.

After topping the United Rugby Championship (URC) table last season, Munster's hopes of retaining the title were ended by their play-offs semi-final home defeat by Glasgow.

They have suffered four losses in six URC games this season and currently sit 12th in the 16-team table.

"I would like to thank the players, management, and fans for the warm welcome throughout both my times at Munster," said Kyriacou.

"However, I have lived apart from my young family for several years now and we felt it timely to continue our rugby journey back in the UK."

Backs coach Mike Prendergast is among the contenders to succeed Rowntree as head coach, with the province's head of rugby operations Ian Costello currently in interim charge.

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Ireland international Peter O'Mahony has returned from injury to start for Munster against the All Blacks XV at Thomand Park on Saturday.

The 35-year-old flanker, who has also been named in the Ireland squad for next week’s meeting with New Zealand in Dublin, opted to miss the warm weather training camp in Portugal to stay home and regain match fitness with his club.

This will be O'Mahony's second appearance of the season after a hamstring injury against Ospreys at the start of the month kept him out of the last three games.

His inclusion is one of eight changes made by interim head coach Ian Costello from Saturday's 41-24 URC defeat by the Sharks.

That game proved to be Graham Rowntree's last in charge after five years with the province.

Diarmuid Barron captains the side, while Diarmuid Kilgallen will make his long-awaited Munster debut on the left wing after he missed the start of the season through injury.

With regular starters Craig Casey and Jack Crowley away with Ireland, Ethan Coughlan and Billy Burns start as the new half-back combination.

Scrum-half Paddy Patterson is in line for his first appearance since New Year's Day as he returns from a long-term knee injury after being named among the replacements.

Six academy players are included in the 23-man squad with Evan O'Connell poised for his first Munster appearance off the bench.

Munster: Mike Haley; Shay McCarthy, Tom Farrell, Rory Scannell, Diarmuid Kilgallen; Billy Burns, Ethan Coughlan; John Ryan, Diarmuid Barron (capt), Stephen Archer; Fineen Wycherley, Tom Ahern; Peter O'Mahony, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Niall Scannell, Kieran Ryan, Ronan Foxe, Evan O'Connell, Ruadhán Quinn, Paddy Patterson, Tony Butler, Ben O'Connor.

All Blacks XV: George Bower, Brodie McAlister, George Dyer, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Fabian Holland, Oliver Haig, Du'Plessis Kirifi (capt), Devan Flanders, Finlay Christie, Harry Plummer, Kini Naholo, Quinn Tupaea, AJ Lam, Chay Fihaki, Shaun Stevenson.

Replacements: Bradley Slater, Xavier Numia, Marcel Renata, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Corey Kellow, Noah Hotham, Josh Jacomb, Ruben Love

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