Munster bank on fringe players

ON this very day twelve months ago, Munster and Connacht clashed in Athlone in what is now regarded as one of Celtic League’s worst ever games.

A particularly awful post-Christmas day worsened when Munster emerged victorious thanks to a single Ronan O’Gara penalty kick to nil.

The two teams meet again this afternoon at the Galway Sportsground. Munster go into the game tied for the lead at the top of the table with the Neath-Swansea Ospreys, but are without several key men, most notably international half-backs O’Gara and Peter Stringer and first choice centres, Rob Henderson and Mike Mullins. All four have been rested by coach Alan Gaffney, who has also decided to put Frankie Sheahan, Alan Quinlan and Shaun Payne on the reserves bench.

Gaffney stresses that his selection is not meant to be disrespectful to Connacht and that he has to afford his fringe players an opportunity to show what they are capable of. Accordingly, there are rare starting opportunities for Paul Devlin, James Storey and Jason Holland in the threequarter line, Paul Burke and Eoin Reddan at half-back and Jerry Flannery and Stephen Keogh up front. Burke is certain to be a key figure at out-half, not least because of his excellent record as a place kicker, but he is also an accomplished all-round player who promises to confirm his status as one of Gaffney’s shrewder signings.

Indeed, his head to head with Eric Elwood should be one of the highlights of the afternoon. Connacht like nothing more than to put one over on the other Irish provinces - a win this afternoon would delight what is expected to be the biggest crowd of the season at the Sportsground.

Several players in their squad have close Munster connections including John Fogarty, Peter Bracken, John O’Sullivan and Tom Tierney, while coach Michael Bradley enjoyed many of his finest hours in the red jersey. Indeed, the wily Bradley continues to play his cards close to his chest and won’t announce his side until a few hours before kick-off.

Munster have won four of the five previous Celtic League matches between the two provinces. They first met at Thomond Park in August 2001, when Jeremy Staunton, now at Harlequins, scored two tries and kicked seven penalties and two conversions in a 40-19 victory. The Connacht try scorer was Eoin Reddan, who today plays scrum-half for Connacht. Munster won 33-3 at Musgrave Park in November 2002; 3-0 in that less than memorable encounter at Athlone this time last year; and 39-10 at Thomond Park last May.

However, the most recent meeting of the sides may also be the most revealing. That was at Musgrave Park in September when they played out a cracking 27-27 draw. Connacht came close that day and probably deserved to end a sixteen-year gap without a win over the southern province. Furthermore, Connacht have won their last three games in Galway, beating Narbonne and Montpelier in the European Challenge Cup and the Newport Dragons in the Celtic League. They last won four successive home games in 1997/98.

No matter which side prevails this afternoon, there should be a great atmosphere which can be extended further by staying on for the special greyhound meeting set to start half an hour after the final whistle with the “Connacht Rugby Munster Buster” as the highlight.

CONNACHT: (from) A. Clarke, R. Hogan, B. Jackman, J. Fogarty, S. Knoop, P. Bracken, C. Short, A. Farley, J. Muldoon, M. Swift, M. Lacey, J. O’Sullivan, C. Keane, M. Walls, T. Tierney, E. Elwood, P. Warwick, J. Downey, C. McPhillips, T. Robinson, D. Yapp, N. O’Brien, J. Meagher, M. Mostyn.

MUNSTER: C. Cullen, P. Devlin, J. Storey, J. Holland, A. Horgan, P. Burke, E. Reddan, M. Horan, J. Flannery, J. Hayes, P. O’Connell, D. O’Callaghan, S. Keogh, D. Leamy, A. Foley. Replacements M. Storey, F. Sheahan, T. Hogan, A. Quinlan, M. Prendergast, S. Payne, M. Lawler.

Referee: S McDowell (Ulster).