Munster expect tough opener against Blues

MUNSTER may be Heineken Cup champions but they won’t get anything soft in the Celtic League opener against Cardiff Blues at the Arms Park tomorrow night.

Thu, 31 Aug, 2006 - 01:00

Barry Coughlan

The visitors are one of the favourites to win the Magners sponsored league this season, but Cardiff will be firm favourites to win this opener.

The reason is simple; the Blues are pretty close to full strength, and are at home, while Munster can’t call on anything like a first choice side.

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Courts Rugby Place: Arms Park Place: Cork Place: Ravenhill Place: North America Place: University of Cape Town Place: South Africa Place: London Person: Declan Kidney Person: Kidney Person: Tom Gleeson Person: Ross Noonan Person: Brendan Cuttriss Person: James Coughlan Person: Eugene McGovern Person: Chris Delooze Person: Ciaran O’Boyle Person: Frankie Roche Person: Barry Murphy Person: Tom Shanklin Person: Roger Wilson Person: Brett Wilkinson Person: Adrian Flavin Person: Michael Bradley Person: Wilkinson Person: Flavin Person: John Fogarty Person: R. Williams Person: C Czekaj Person: J Robinson Person: M Stcherbina Person: M Luveitasau Person: N Robinson Person: M Phillips Person: G Jenkins Person: T Rhys Thomas Person: T Filise Person: D Jones Person: R Sidoli Person: S Morgan Person: M Williams Person: X Rush Person: J Yapp Person: G Williams Person: B Davies Person: R Sowden-Taylor Person: W Evans Person: N Macleod Person: T Shanklin Person: C. Cullen Person: S. Payne Person: I. Dowling Person: J. Downey Person: J. Kelly Person: M. Lawlor Person: T. Gleeson Person: E. Hickey Person: J. Manning Person: T. O’Leary Person: J. Hurley Person: F. Pucciariello Person: D. Hurley Person: T. Ryan Person: F. Sheahan Person: S. Cronin Person: F Sheahan Person: J Coughlan Person: J O’Sullivan Person: D Ryan Person: R Noonan Person: C. Wyatt Person: B Cuttriss Person: S O’Connor Person: B Cunningham Person: M Bartholemeusz Person: P Steinmetz Person: P Wallace Person: A Maxwell Person: D Humphreys Person: K Campbell Person: J Fitzpatrick Person: P Shields Person: T Court Person: J Harrison Person: T Barker Person: S Ferris Person: N McMillan Person: R Wilson Person: N Brady Person: D Fitzpatrick Person: M McCullough Person: K Dawson Person: P Marshall Person: K Maggs Person: S Young Person: M Mostyn Person: C McPhillips Person: P Warwick Person: D Yapp Person: M McHugh Person: C Keane Person: B Wilkinson Person: A Flavin Person: S Knoop Person: D Gannon Person: A Farley Person: J Muldoon Person: M Lacey Person: C Rigney Person: J Fogarty Person: M Diffley Person: M Swift Person: B O’Connor Person: T Tierney Person: K Matthews Person: D Riordan Event: Heineken Cup Event: Celtic League Event: Churchill Cup Event: Magners League Organisation: Munster Organisation: Blues Organisation: Cardiff Blues Organisation: Cardiff Organisation: Leicester Organisation: Ulster Organisation: Llanelli Scarlets Organisation: New Zealand Maori Organisation: Connacht Organisation: Border Reivers Organisation: Irish Organisation: Ireland

<p>BLOW: Ulster captain Iain Henderson pensive after being shown a red card against the Stormers at Affidea Stadium in Belfast. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile</p>

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