URC team news: 100th Munster cap for Kleyn, Buckley returns for Connacht, McCarthy set for Leinster debut

Jean Kleyn will make his 100th Munster appearance in tomorrow's United Rugby Championship visit to Zebre (live on RTÉ2).

The South Africa-born Ireland international brings up his century of appearances in Parma, having joined the province in the summer of 2016.

Kleyn is one of four players to keep their place after last weekend's Heineken Champions Cup win against Wasps, with Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron and captain Jack O'Donoghue also retained.

Head coach Johann van Graan is using the return to URC action to give his extended squad gametime, with seven of the matchday 23 having played AIL rugby last week.

There's a first Munster start for out-half Jake Flannery, who partners Neil Cronin behind the scrum.

Dan Goggin - who agreed a two-year contract extension yesterday - comes into the centre along with Liam Coombes.

Calvin Nash makes his return from more then three months out with an ankle injury to start on the wing, with Matt Gallagher and Shane Daly completing the backline.

Up front, Loughman and Barron continue in the front row where they are joined by Keynan Knox who gets his first start since October.

Fineen Wycherley returns to the second row to partner Kleyn, while captain O'Donoghue starts on the blind side of the scrum, with John Hodnett at seven and Jack O'Sullivan coming in at eight.

Munster come into the weekend fifth in the table, nine points behind leaders Edinburgh, although they do have a game in hand on the Scottish side.

Munster: Matt Gallagher; Calvin Nash, Liam Coombes, Dan Goggin, Shane Daly; Jake Flannery, Neil Cronin; Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron, Keynan Knox; Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley; Jack O'Donoghue (capt), John Hodnett, Jack O’Sullivan.

Replacements: Scott Buckley, Josh Wycherley, Roman