Loughman to start again in Munster's first home game of the season

Kildare's Jeremy Loughman has been named in the Munster starting XV for the second week in a row as the province prepares for their first home game in this season's BTK United Rugby Championship this weekend. 

Having beaten Scarlets away in the opening round, new boss Clayton McMillan will enjoy his first outing at Thomond Park on Saturday (October 4) as Munster face Welsh opposition once more, this time in the form of Cardiff. 

Athy prop Loughman played 50 minutes last week before being replaced by Josh Wycherley, with his young Cork understudy once again named among the replacements. 

Munster ran in four tries to win that game 34-21 as they left Parc y Scarlets with all five points. 

The win was not without its cost, however, as Munster left the game with a worryingly large injury list that now includes the likes of Craig Casey, John Hodnett, Alex Kendellen, JJ Hanrahan, Mike Haley, John Ryan and more. 

Cardiff also began with a bonus-point win last week, beating South African side, the Lions, by 33-20. 

The game kicks off at 7.45pm in Limerick with live coverage on TG4 and Premier Sports. 

MUNSTER: Ben O'Connor; Shane Daly, Dan Kelly, Thaakir Abrahams; Jack Crowley, Ethan Coughlan; Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, Oli Jager; Jean Kleyn, Finee Wycherley; Tom Ahern, Ruadhan Quinn, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Josh Wycherley, Ronan Foxe, Jack O'Donoghue, Brian Gleeson, Paddy Patterson, Tony Butler, Sean O'Brien. 

Munster's next game next Friday night in Musgrave Park, Cor, against Edinburgh.