Vital encounter as O’Gara leads Munster into Dragons’ den

By Charlie Mulqueen

Saturday, March 06, 2010

THE BATTLE for the top-four places in the Magners League intensifies this weekend with Munster requiring four points from their visit to Wales this evening to maintain their challenge.

Their cause is helped by the release of Ronan O’Gara by the national management.

The game affords the out-half some valuable game time after he was restricted to around 15 minutes in the win over England last week where he made a vital contribution and looked to be on top of his game, and full of determination and commitment.

O’Gara resumes his half-back partnership with Peter Stringer, about whose future there has been considerable speculation.

Yet Stringer showed with his recent man-of-the-match performance against Edinburgh that there remains few scrum-halves better equipped to get a back division moving.

That being the case, Munster fans will expect a productive evening not alone for O’Gara but for the powerful centre partnership of Jean De Villiers and Lifeimi Mafi along with wings Doug Howlett and Denis Hurley.

And with the excellent Paul Warwick recovered from a dead leg and fit to fill the full-back berth, this is, with the exception of Keith Earls, a full-strength Munster back division.

O’Gara’s return is the only alteration in the backs with wing Ian Dowling ruled out by an ankle injury.

Billy Holland comes into the second row alongside Mick O’Driscoll while Tommy O’Donnell takes over from the injured Niall Ronan at number seven. O’Donnell joins fellow Tipperary man Alan Quinlan in the back row with the latter pulling on the red jersey for the 189th time.

Once again, coach Tony McGahan makes use of his young bloods with highly regarded Academy pair Ian Nagle and Scott Deasy on the bench alongside Duncan Williams and Ciaran O’Boyle who scored a superb try in this fixture last season. New Zealander Nick Williams scored two tries in the first meeting of the sides at Musgrave Park in October even though he only came on as a late replacement. He had a big outing for the As in their B&I Cup victory over Neath last week and can look forward to further action at some stage of this evening’s clash.

"Our away form this season has been disappointing and while we have usually done well against the Dragons, they are a different side this year," says Munster coach Shaun Payne.

"They have brought in a core of young and exciting players and will be very difficult to beat on their home patch. However, Rog’s availability is a huge bonus and if we can win a fair share of quality possession up front, we would be confident of returning with the points."

Meanwhile, Luke Charters will be out to nail down a Wales starting spot against Ireland when he lines out for the Dragons. The 6ft 9ins second row was dropped after the Six Nations opener against England, but is firmly in the frame for a berth in the boiler house at Croke Park following injuries to Alun Wyn Jones and Deiniol Jones.

He came on for rib-damage victim Deiniol during the first half against France last Friday and is now hoping for a recall to the starting line-up.

Home full back Martyn Thomas expects a busy night.

"The talent that runs through their squad is ridiculous," said the 22-year-old. "We have got to play territory, not do anything too frantic and build our way into the game. Early points will help build up our confidence. We have targeted this game and need the victory if we are to target the top four and keep the fans happy."

The visitors appear to carry far too much power behind the scrum for the Welsh side but it’s what happens up front that may decide the outcome.

However, even if he was forced to live off scraps, you suspect that O’Gara will do enough to clinch another important Munster win.

This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Saturday, March 06, 2010