Fitzgerald in first start for Munster

Garryowen's Bryan Fitzgerald has signed a three-month contract extension with Munster. Photo: Oisin Keniry/Inpho.

FOLLOWING ON from the great disappointment of the loss at Zebre, Munster will aim for a quick return to winning ways in the URC against Ospreys in Cork on Saturday, 7.35pm.

Both sides are a win apiece from two starts.

At Friday lunchtime, home coach Graham Rowntree unveiled his starting selection.

There are eight personnel changes and one positional switch to the side that suffered a shock defeat in Italy.

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Garryowenโ€™s Bryan Fitzgerald (25) makes his first start for the province following his debut off the bench at the weekend.

Captain Tadhg Beirne, Jack Crowley and Peter Oโ€™Mahony all start on their first appearances of the season.

Academy winger Shay McCarthy (21), Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell and Jack Oโ€™Donoghue also come into team.

Mike Haley, Calvin Nash and McCarthy start in the back three.

Craig Casey and Crowley are in the half-backs as Fitzgerald and Tom Farrell start together in midfield. A positional change sees Farrell return to outside centre.

Loughman, Scannell and Oli Jager pack down in the front row with Jean Kleyn and Beirne in the engine room.

Oโ€™Mahony, John Hodnett and Oโ€™Donoghue complete the line-up.

On the injury front, Alex Nankivell (shoulder) was unavailable for selection.

Munster: Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Bryan Fitzgerald, Shay McCarthy; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, Oli Jager; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne, captain; Peter Oโ€™Mahony, John Hodnett, Jack Oโ€™Donoghue.

Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, John Ryan, Stephen Archer, Fineen Wycherley, Gavin Coombes, Conor Murray, Tony Butler, Jack Daly.

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