Omens are good for Munster revenge

APRIL 30, 2004 was a sad and ignominious day in the history of Munster rugby. That was the date when an understrength side from the province crashed 60-14 to their Cardiff hosts at the Arms Park.

The Cardiff Blues did as they wished that night. Craig Morgan ran in a hat-trick of tries, Tom Shanklin touched down twice and there was another for Martyn Williams.

It won’t be lost on Munster coach Alan Gaffney that the trio play in this evening’s Celtic League tie at Thomond Park, (5.15, Setanta TV).

Munster will not only want to avenge that Arms Park hammering but also demonstrate that they are in perfect condition for the commencement of the Heineken Cup next weekend.

The omens for the hosts are good. When Cardiff last came a-visiting - at Musgrave Park last November - Frankie Sheahan contributed two of the five tries in a 31-10 victory. Furthermore, the glory days of Cardiff rugby have long since passed with coach Dai Young, making five changes in the back division after the defeat to Edinburgh.

Rhys Williams, already capped 38 times by Wales at the age of 23, plays in the centre alongside Shanklin with Samoan Freddie Tuilagi on the wing and Craig Morgan at full-back.

The pack includes familiar names in the second-row pair Craig Quinnell and Robert Sidoli who have 52 Welsh caps between them, and skipper Martyn Williams who has represented his country on 44 occasions.

The only surprises are that they haven’t won away from home since last March 5 when they defeated Leinster 22-18 at Donnybrook, and that they should be languishing in seventh place in the Celtic League table with 11 points, two behind Munster.

Munster have won seven of their last eight games in all competitions at Thomond Park, the only loss being by 16-6 to the Dragons in March.

By far the most encouraging aspect of their more recent performances has been the ever improving form of Christian Cullen.

Shaun Payne’s selection ahead of Mike Mullins suggests the outside centre berth for the Heineken Cup visit of Harlequins next week is still open. The uncertainty concerning Donncha O’Callaghan’s calf injury affords Trevor Hogan a chance to stake his claim as Paul O’Connell’s second-row partner.

David Wallace started the campaign as Ireland’s number one open-side flanker after a hugely successful tour of South African but now doesn’t even merit a place as a replacement.

Alan Quinlan warms the bench - yet another indication of the riches available to Gaffney in the back-row.

The Munster management have been issuing the usual warnings about the dangers of underestimating the opposition. But you suspect that anything other than a home win would leave the fans more than a little disappointed as we enter the business end of the season.

MUNSTER: C Cullen; J Kelly, S Payne, R Henderson, A Horgan; R O’Gara, P Stringer; M Horan, F Sheahan, J Hayes, P O’Connell, T Hogan, J Williams, D Leamy A Foley capt. Replacements, J Flannery, G McIlwham, T Bowman, A Quinlan, M Prendergast, P Burke, P Devlin.

CARDIFF BLUES: C Morgan; J Vaughton, R Williams, T Shanklin, F Tuilagi; L Thomas, D Dewdney; G Jenkins, G Williams, M Jones, C Quinnell, R Sidoli, N Thomas, K Schubert, M Williams capt. Replacements, A Lewis, R Thomas, D Jones, N Budgett, R. Smith, N Macleod, S James.

Referee: D Changleng (Scotland).