La Rochelle vs Munster: Peter O’Mahony returns for visitors but Alex Nankivell suspended

Peter O’Mahony has returned to the Munster team for Saturday’s Investec Champions Cup last-16 trip to La Rochelle.

The 35-year-old flanker has not played since making his final Ireland appearance against Italy in the Six Nations on 15 March.

O’Mahony is joined in the back row by Gavin Coombes and John Hodnett, who had been a doubt because of a thigh injury.

Second row Jean Kleyn, full-back Thaakir Abrahams and wing Andrew Smith also return to the line-up, but centre Alex Nankivell is suspended after Munster’s unsuccessful appeal against his red card in last week’s win over Connacht.

Nankivell is replaced in midfield by Sean O’Brien, while Craig Casey and Jack Crowley are retained in the half-backs.

South Africa-born Abrahams, whose five previous Munster appearances came on the wing, will make his first appearance since December after recovering from a shoulder injury.

2022 and 2023 champions La Rochelle, who are coached by Munster legend Ronan O’Gara, welcome back scrum-half Tawera Kerr-Barlow.

Saturday’s game will be the first competitive encounter between the sides. While Munster beat Connacht last weekend, La Rochelle have lost seven and drawn one of their past eight games.

La Rochelle: Leyds; Nowell, Thomas, Seuteni, Bosmorin; West, Kerr-Barlow; Wardi, Bourgarit, Atonio; Lavault, Skelton; Botia, Jegou, Alldritt (capt).

Replacements: Lespiaucq; Kaddouri, Juntlia, Dillane, Cancoriet, Haddad, Hastoy, Favre.

Munster: Abrahams; Nash, Farrell, O’Brien, Smith; Crowley, Casey; Loughman, Barron, Jager; Kleyn, Beirne (capt); O’Mahony, Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: N Scannell, J Wycherley, Archer, F Wycherley, Ahern, Murray, R Scannell, Kendellen.