Europe awaits.

Munster Rugby have named their team for Friday’s Champions Cup pool clash against Castres with some big names absent from their squad. The southern province are without Damian de Allende who picked up an abdominal injury last week ahead of the Ulster game, with the Springbok unable to recover in time for the visit to France.

Ben Healy is also not in the squad this weekend, with Jack Crowley starting at 10 and Jake Flannery offering cover from the bench as Joey Carbery recovers from a long-term elbow injury picked up in the win over Wasps.

In all, there are five changes to the side that defeated Ulster at Thomond Park on Saturday night.

Captain Peter O’Mahony returns after missing the Ulster win due to a leg strain with Andrew Conway, Keith Earls, Conor Murray and Jack O’Donoghue also coming into the side. here is a positional switch for last week’s Player of the Match Tadhg Beirne as he moves into the second-row.

Mike Haley starts at full-back with Conway and Earls on either flank. Rory Scannell and Chris Farrell continue their centre partnership with Murray and Crowley in the half-backs.

The front row of Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell and Stephen Archer is unchanged with Fineen Wycherley and Beirne in the engine room. O’Mahony, O’Donoghue and Gavin Coombes complete the starting XV.

Munster: Mike Haley; Andrew Conway, Chris Farrell, Rory Scannell, Keith Earls; Jack Crowley, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; Fineen Wycherley, Tadhg Beirne; Peter O’Mahony (C), Jack O’Donoghue, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Jeremy Loughman, John Ryan, Jean Kleyn, John Hodnett, Craig Casey, Jake Flannery, Shane Daly.