Munster’s injured stars could be in the frame for Cardiff game
John Kelly (hamstring), Anthony Horgan (Achilles tendon) and Barry Murphy (shoulder) are expected to train with the squad in Limerick today.
Murphy could earn a recall if fit but it might be more difficult for Kelly and Horgan. Both would normally be automatic choices, but replacements Ian Dowling and Tomás O’Leary were well up to the task in Cardiff on Sunday.
Prop Federico Pucciariello, who remained behind when the squad left Cardiff on Sunday, returned to Limerick yesterday. Pucciariello felt unwell on arrival at Cardiff Airport and was taken by the Munster team doctor to the nearby hospital as a precautionary measure. The Argentine prop is expected to attend squad training today.
Meanwhile, Ronan O’Gara made it clear that Munster face a mighty task again next week. “It won’t be any easier; they’re a good side and we have to get better to beat them,” he said.
“Yes, we had to grind out a win over Cardiff, but it wasn’t our style of play,” he said. “It was a bad day for rugby, a day when the pitch was heavy and there was a lot of rain; windy and wet. I don’t think it suited either side, it certainly didn’t suit us. The most important thing was that we didn’t concede a try. That was very important to us.”
O’Gara recognises that Munster have a bit to go in their bid to retain the European title.
“Of course, it’s going to be difficult; it’s one game at a time and we have got to prepare ourselves for a major battle. We’re the champions and everyone wants to beat us. It’s up to us to make sure that we can build on last year’s success.
Sunday’s Heineken Cup man of the match, Alan Quinlan, said Munster “have no divine right” to win games, and has called for a more disciplined all-round display on Saturday in Thomond Park.
“It’s going to be very difficult again next week,” said Quinlan, who notched his 50th Heineken Cup appearance and qualified for an ERC Elite Award.
“You always have to raise your game in the Heineken Cup — we have to try to get better every week.
“This is probably the best start we’ve ever had in the Heineken Cup — we’re in a good position but we’re under no illusions. We need to play a lot more disciplined rugby next week and get to the old school driving game.”
Munster’s back three of Ian Dowling, Shaun Payne and Tomas O’Leary were the unsung heroes from Sunday’s clash, according to Quinlan. “Credit has to go to the back three — they tidied up so much and took a lot of pressure off us.”
Quinlan added: “We knew it was going to be difficult. We were disappointed with the way it started. Our discipline was poor. After half-time we made life difficult for ourselves again and we decided to keep the ball a bit tighter and drive it on.
“The game against Connacht really helped us.”
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