Munster to triumph in fine fashion

THE EARLY season skirmishing has ended and the business end of the season has arrived.

Heineken Cup matches are taking place all over rugby playing Europe this weekend with the “nearly men” of the past six years, Munster, going into action once again at Thomond Park this evening (5.15pm) against Harlequins.

On the face of it, this should be a gentle way of easing Munster into the fray once again and in spite of all the protestations with the squad and management, it is quietly agreed that anything other than victory over the struggling ’Quins, preferably with a bonus point, would prove a hammer-blow to the team’s chances of reaching the knock-out stages for the seventh successive year.

It’s not that Munster are treating the challenge lightly, with key man Paul O’Connell one of many reacting rather angrily during the week to suggestions that the game might be something of a pushover.

Coach Alan Gaffney last night stressed: “After a slow start to the season, ’Quins have shown some form against Gloucester and Leicester. They have a pack of considerable quality and a lot of dangerous players in the back line. We all know that Jeremy Staunton can do wondrous things on his day and people like Will Greenwood, Dafydd James and Gavin Duffy are always a threat.”

Gaffney finalised his 22 yesterday and in some ways has taken the easy option by leaving the pack intact from last week’s Celtic League win over Cardiff, but included both David Wallace and Alan Quinlan on the bench.

This means that there are only two back replacements and the coach agreed that this strategy could backfire and leave him with egg on his face.

“While our objective is to win the match, we would like to give Wally and Quinny some game time bearing the national picture in mind and we will do so if at all possible,” he said.

“We are fortunate in that several of the backs can cover a number of positions, John Kelly is picked in the centre but is at home on either wing, Mossy Lawler likewise and Mike Prendergast also covers a few positions. We could even put Wally on the wing if necessary, although that is not our intention.”

With Donncha O’Callaghan still ruled out because of his calf muscle problem, Trevor Hogan comes in for his first Heineken Cup tie as O’Connell’s second-row partner.

“I have no concerns there. Some might have preferred a tried and trusted test player like Tommy Bowman, but we are simply rewarding Trevor for his very good form of recent weeks,” Gaffney explained.

Shaun Payne’s absence means Kelly moves to the centre in this, his 50th Heineken Cup appearance, and Lawler has been preferred on the wing to Paul Devlin, the recent arrival from Rugby League.

“Mossie has been training the house down and it was important he came through half a game with Shannon on Sunday last,” the coach added.

“We feel Paul needs more time, including getting reacquainted with the rules and instead he will play an AIL game for Garryowen at the weekend.”

Harlequins were thrashed 51-17 on their last visit to Thomond Park. That was in 2002 at a time when they were already out of the competition and had nothing to play for.

This time they are desperately anxious to atone for a dreadful start to the Zurich Premiership and should provide far more spirited opposition.

However, they are badly hit by the loss of scrum-half Matt Henjak, who has been recalled to the Australian squad. Staunton will miss Henjak’s fluid service, all the more so because his replacement Steve So’oialo is a little on the slow side.

Quite clearly they have travelled more in hope than confidence.

And that is perfectly understandable given their current problems.

Not alone is Henjak a major loss, but the pack, for all its doggedness, has failed to deliver the kind of ball on which a youngish back line understandably lacking in confidence will flourish.

Will Greenwood can do only so much if those around him are back pedalling for most of the time.

South African Andre Vos continues to be both a skipper and openside flanker of the highest quality, but it looks as if Harlequins have come up a long way short of producing a decent forward pack, especially as they are now deprived of, among others, a highly influential personality in the retired Lions prop Jason Leonard.

Heineken Cup factfile

THIS season’s tournament is the 10th anniversary competition, with 582 games played. Only four teams have taken part every year - Toulouse, Munster, Leinster and Ulster.

* The first Heineken Cup game was played on October 31, 1995 when Toulouse beat Romanian side Farul Constanta 54-10.

* Seven teams have won the Heineken Cup - Leicester (2), Toulouse (2), Wasps, Bath, Northampton, Brive and Ulster.

* The record Heineken Cup victory is Toulouse’s 108-16 win against Ebbw Vale in the 1998/99 season.

* Munster number eight Anthony Foley has made the most appearances, 60, in Heineken Cup rugby.

* Leicester have the highest success rate, 71.15%, in Heineken Cup history, closely followed by Toulouse and Wasps.

* Diego Dominguez (Stade Francais and Milan) is the tournament’s top scorer with 645 points, ahead of Munster’s Ronan O’Gara (608).