Munster braced for full-blooded Ulster battle

ROTATION is the name of the game for Munster coach Tony McGahan who has again mixed and matched his selection for tonight’s Magners League clash with Ulster at Thomond Park.

McGahan’s Ulster counterpart Matt Williams has been a little more circumspect though he has rested hooker and captain, Rory Best, one of his most experienced campaigners. He is replaced by Nigel Brady in one of four changes from the side that lost to Leinster last week.

Clinton Schifcofske replaces Bryn Cunningham at full-back, while up front Tom Court and Kieron Dawson start ahead of Justin Fitzpatrick and David Pollock.

Former international Dawson assumes the captaincy in Best’s absence and called on his players to repeat the performance that earned them a 22-6 victory when the sides clashed in November.

He said: “I’ve told the senior players a few times that they have got to lead the others.

“We are Ulster and we are going down to do a job against Munster. We have got to believe in ourselves. I’m looking forward to playing in a great stadium against a great side and running ourselves into the ground.”

One can only imagine what a victory would mean to the beleaguered Matt Williams and his squad after a pretty disappointing campaign so far.

Yet Ulster appear to have a side capable of producing a famous result. Stephen Ferris has emerged in recent times as a blindside flanker of the highest quality and a man with his sights firmly set on a Lions tour place next summer. Robbie Diack and Dawson complete a formidable back-row trio, and while they will undoubtedly miss the services of the injured Ryan Caldwell in the engine room of the pack, they still have some proven performers in the front five.

Ian Humphreys has displaced Paddy Wallace at out-half and will relish the opportunity of again displaying his wares in front of a packed and animated Thomond Park crowd.

The younger brother of David, one of Ulster’s greatest servants, knows what it is to put one over on Munster on home soil, having been the number ten in the Leicester Tigers team that lowered their colours for the only time at the venue in the Heineken Cup in January 2007.

His inside partner, Isaac Boss, has his critics but on his day can prove extremely dangerous, centre Darren Cave demonstrated what he is capable of with a fine try last week against Leinster and Andrew Trimble on the wing will aim to use the occasion to remind Ireland coach Declan Kidney of his talents.

Tony McGahan’s starting line-up doesn’t include front-line regulars like Keith Earls, Ian Dowling, Tomás O’Leary, Marcus Horan, Paul O’Connell, Alan Quinlan and David Wallace.

Of this elite group, only Quinlan is included among the replacements, doubtless due the decision to give New Zealander Nick Williams his first start at number eight having only taken a minor role in an A game against Leinster and the final 20 minutes against Connacht on Sunday last.

A massively built former player with the Auckland Blues, Williams will be closely scrutinised as he bids to claim a regular place in the back-row, especially with Denis Leamy not due to return until the end of the month.

Several others will view the game as an opportunity to press their claims for further recognition with Denis Hurley recalled at full-back, Kieran Lewis on the wing and Donnacha Ryan in the back-row.

Munster need to step up appreciably on recent form. They have been stung by forfeiting top spot in the Magners League to the Ospreys, largely due to the defeat by Connacht.

With Ronan O’Gara back as captain and out-half and Rua Tipoki restored in the centre, they should be good enough to do so, but the 26,000-plus packed inside the new stadium are sure to be treated to a full-blooded encounter.