Antoine Frisch starts as Munster make three changes for Ospreys

Antoine Frisch is one of three changes to Munster's side for Friday night's BKT United Rugby Championship meeting with the Ospreys at Thomond Park (live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player).

The centre missed out on last week's win over Ulster due to injury, but slots back into midfield where he replaces Rory Scannell, who picked up a season-ending ankle injury in the 29-24 win.

The other two changes made by head coach Graham Rowntree come in the back row, where Gavin Coombes and John Hodnett both start, having played off the bench last week. They come in for Jack O'Donoghue and Alex Kendellen, both of whom are included among the replacements.

An experienced front row trio of Stephen Archer, Niall Scannell and Jeremy Loughman are retained, while Tadgh Beirne captains the side from the second row where he is joined by RG Snyman, who avoided a citing this week following a head-contact on Ulster's Will Addison last week.

Crag Casey and Jack Crowley team up in the half-backs for the fourth game in a row, while Frisch's return to the 13 shirt sees Seán O'Brien move to inside centre.

Calvin Nash and Shane Daly are on the wings as usual, while Simon Zebo stars at full-back, hoping to prolong his retirement by at least one more week.

The province were hit by injury blows this week, but there's positive news with hooker Diarmuid Barron returning from a five-months layoff on the bench, joining Oli Jager and John Ryan in an impactful front row.

With no out and out second row on the bench, that responsibility will likely fall on Coombes if needed, while Conor Murray, Tony Butler and Mike Haley complete the matchday squad.

Ospreys head coach Toby Booth has stuck largely with the same formula from his side's bonus-point win over Cardiff last weekend,