Last match at Thomond should pull in the fans

SHANNON and UL Bohemians will mark the end of an era at Thomond Park on Saturday.

While Munster have finished off their tenure at the old ground, the co-tenants meet in a club fixture that has all the credentials to pull in the crowds in greater numbers than ever before.

The bulldozers are due to move in next week, but there will be a fair few pints consumed and maybe a few tears shed in each of the clubhouses when the two teams come head-to-head before the redevelopment starts.

Shannon are currently placed second in the AIB League Division one table, behind current league leaders Cork Constitution, while their co-tenants enjoy third place.

Last time out, UL dropped points to Garryowen and lost the runners up spot, while Shannon’s facile win over Dungannon moved them up from fifth place.

The last time the clubs met in the AIB League was in November 2005, and on that occasion Shannon ran out comprehensive winners with a scoreline of 33-0.

However the clubs most recently met in the 2006 Limerick Charity Cup, a game that saw Shannon lose 10-18 to UL. No doubt Shannon will be eager to avenge that result on Saturday.

UL enjoy the best recent record of any Munster club playing at home against other Munster clubs — they have won 15 of their last 20 games, whilst Shannon are seeking their 16th victory in 20 AIB Leagues fixtures in Munster.

Meanwhile, Leinster will face Benetton Treviso in a friendly game in Donnybrook on Wednesday, March 14 (KO: 6.30pm).

The match has been organised to assist squad preparations ahead of crunch Magners League and Heineken Cup encounters in March. Given the gap in the fixture list brought about primarily by the RBS Six Nations and the fact that it’s an idle week for the province in the Magners League that weekend — Leinster were pleased to arrange the friendly to face the Italian side who are coached by All Black great Craig Green.

Treviso were drawn in Pool 1 of this year’s Heineken Cup alongside Perpignan, Castres Olympique and, incidentally, Leinster’s Heineken Cup Quarter Final opponents London Wasps.

Leinster faced Treviso in the 2004/2005 Heineken Cup campaign and defeated them 25-9 (away) and 57-17 (home).

Elsewhere, Mark McCall has named a 22-man squad to take on the Llanelli Scarlets on Saturday (17.30). The Squad includes four Ulster players who were involved with the Irish team’s historic 43-13 win over England at Croke Park last weekend, including Isaac Boss, Simon Best, Paddy Wallace and Andrew Trimble.

Neil Best has not been included in the squad due to a thigh injury picked up in the Irish camp. New Ulster signing Sam Harding has been included and will be hoping to make his debut in the Magners League this weekend.

Cardiff Blues have selected a team that includes six players from Wales’ Six Nations squad to face Munster on Friday night.

Jamie Robinson, Chris Czekaj, Mike Phillips, Scott Morgan, Robert Sidoli and T Rhys Thomas will all start for the Blues as they take on the Heineken Cup Champions at Musgrave Park. Munster have only lost there once in their last twelve encounters: a 17-20 loss to Ulster in December 2005.

The two sides have already met on three occasions this season with Cardiff Blues winning the Magners League clash 22-13 at the Arms Park, but Munster taking both legs in the European Cup during December.

The Blues had earlier in the day announced on their website the good news that both Jamie and Nicky Robinson had signed contract extensions to keep them at the Arms Park. However, they’ve been dealt a blow with the news that Hooker, Duane Goodfield, has undergone shoulder surgery that will keep him out of action until next season.

CARDIFF BLUES: Ben Blair, Tom James, Jamie Robinson, Marc Stcherbina, Chris Czekaj, Nicky Robinson, Mike Phillips, Xavier Rush (c), Rhys Shellard, Scott Morgan, Robert Sidoli, Deiniol Jones, Gary Powell, T Rhys Thomas, Taufa’ao Filise. Replacements: Scott Roberts, Gareth Williams, Ben White, Mark Lewis, Wayne Evans, Mosese Luveitasau, Nick Macleod

ULSTER SQUAD: Kieran Campbell; Isaac Boss; David Humphreys; Paddy Wallace; Andrew Trimble; Paul Steinmetz; Kevin Maggs; Paul McKenzie; Bryn Cunningham; Tommy Bowe; Justin Fitzpatrick; Bryan Young; Simon Best; Paul Shields; Stuart Philpott; Justin Harrison (Captain); Tim Barker; Ryan Caldwell; Kieron Dawson; Roger Wilson; Stephen Ferris; Sam Harding.