Munster face Le Crunch
More of the same is forecast for today as Alan Gaffney's side go in search of their fifth victory on French soil. Their record in this respect has been closely noted in the Perpignan camp with coach Olivier Saisset and Canadian number eight Phil Murphy last night referring to what they believe may be a crucial factor in Munster's favour.
"They have vast experience of this kind of must win situation", said Saisset. "They are very strong defensively and we will be trying to play a fast game in an effort to break them down. We managed to do that in our last two games against Gloucester and Narbonne, both of which we won well, but there is a danger we may be a little rusty because we have not played since the Narbonne match on December 21st".
Murphy is the son of Dublin parents who emigrated to Canada where the number eight was born in December 1976. His mother and father have travelled over for the game and that makes him all the more anxious to come up with the desired result.
"Munster are big, physical and can count heavily on their experience in the European Cup",
Murphy pointed out as he recalled how Perpignan escaped from the first meeting of the sides at Thomond Park in October with more dignity than they had any right to expect.
Perpignan have made two changes from the side that led Gloucester by 31-9 for an hour of their clash last month before conceding a couple of late tries which could yet prove crucial in qualification.
Pascal Meya comes in for Renaud Peillard at loose head prop and skipper Bernard Goutta returns after injury to take over on the open side flank from Lionel Mallier.
Munster are all set for a hostile reception at this well-planned ground which will be even better when a new stand currently under construction is completed. The playing surface is quite immaculate and if the wind abates, then the prospect is for a really cracking encounter.
The capacity for today's game is limited to 8,000 but strange to relate, tickets were still being sold yesterday afternoon at the very reasonable price of €7.50 and by all accounts will also be available this morning.
This hardly indicates any particular fanaticism on the part of the Perpignan public who, however, are all set to lend their side eighty minutes of ear-shattering support.
It's nothing the men in red haven't encountered before and they are ready, most of the players going so far as to surround Ronan O'Gara as he practised his goal kicking and making as much noise as possible to prepare him for what he can expect in the real thing!
"This is a huge game simply because we can't rely on next week against Gloucester, we know that if we win, we have a very good chance of qualifying for the quarter-finals but we also realise just how difficult it is going to be," said Alan Gaffney.
"Perpignan have a sensational set piece, they destroyed Vickery and company in the scrums in the Gloucester game, their line-out is solid and their rolling mauls are very effective.
They are rough and rugged, they will try to tie you up and prevent you from playing, they have a fine number nine in Ludovic Loustau and an excellent out-half in Manny Edmonds. They have reasonable pace out wide as we saw in the Thomond Park game where they ran in two tries from long range."
If they're that good, I suggested to Gaffney, Munster might not as well turn up at all. He laughed heartily at the suggestion, firmly pointing out how good his own side happens to be and also admitting a degree of surprise at the attitude adopted by Gloucester last month.
"They seemed to be trying to play a Barbarians style of game and I thought they even looked a little arrogant", he maintained. "That certainly won't be the way we approach things. Yes, I coached Manny Edmonds for two years at New South Wales so I know a lot about his game. He has great hands and as befits a man of close on 100 kilos, is a big kicker of the ball and loves to see the game played in the opposition half of the pitch. I'm not saying he is a weak defender but his concentration can lapse from time to time and this is an area we will be looking at."
Gaffney completed his replacement bench by preferring Denis Leamy to Eddie Halvey and stressed: "We are as ready as we can be and there will be no excuses if we don't pull it off."
He and just about every Munster fan will earnestly hope that Welsh referee Nigel Williams is up to the task. The atmosphere will be extremely emotive and the last thing Munster need is a "homer" in charge of the whistle.
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