Coach Turner hopes young guns breathe fire into Dragons

MUNSTER are without their starting internationals for today’s Magners League clash against Newport Gwent Dragons.

So what, says Dragons head coach Paul Turner – look at what we’re faced with: “Although Munster are without a lot of players through international duty, that is tempered somewhat by our injury list. We’ve lost both our wings in (Richard) Fussell and (Gareth) Wyatt as well as (Colin) Charvis, (Marc) Stcherbina and (Rhodri) Gomer-Davies, who are all quality players.

“However, this game is going to offer a chance for some of our players to prove themselves in a top-level game and I’m sure they will be keen to seize the opportunity with both hands.”

Along with those named above, injury has also robbed Newport of Adam Black (prop) and Adam Jones (second row), while Hoani McDonald (second row/back row) is away on compassionate grounds, and Luke Charteris, Tal Selley and Aled Brew are tied up with the Wales international team.

There was one spark of good news, the release by coach Warren Gatland of prop Rhys Thomas — already selected, along with Charteris, to start against Italy in the Six-Nations on Saturday week — to play against Munster.

Does that list of absentees compare with the loss to Munster of eight internationals (the half-back pairing of Ronan O’Gara and Tomás O’Leary, the first-choice front five, and in-form number seven David Wallace), the loss of the injured Barry Murphy and Ian Dowling, along with Doug Howlett and Rua Tipoki?

Hardly, but then again Newport Gwent Dragons aren’t reigning European champions and don’t have the same strength in depth as Munster. Nevertheless, coach Turner is upbeat.

“Look at the squad that we have put together,” he says, “We wouldn’t have been able to do that a year or two ago. Tomorrow is an opportunity for players to state what they can do for the region and to push to join Luke Charteris and Rhys Thomas in the Wales squad.

“We need to be positive about going out there to beat Munster, there is no other way. After the game I will be able to firmly say that it has been proved that we have come a long way this season in terms of squad strength.

“It’s all about results, we could be fourth or back down to ninth. But I definitely feel that we are developing and I am pleased with the progress we are making as an organisation.”

Should the game turn into kicking ping-pong, Newport will be well served in their back three, regular full-backs Kevin Morgan and Martyn Thomas both lining out on the wing, while young Jason Tovey, hat-trick try-scoring hero of the recent 26-16 win over Ulster, is sure to cause problems for Munster, whether he remains at full-back or shifts to out-half, where he finished against Ulster.

Munster make three changes from the team that beat Edinburgh last time out, with Kieran Lewis replacing Howlett on the wing, Darragh Hurley coming into the front row for Freddie Pucciariello, while Donnacha Ryan returns to the second row after a family bereavement kept him out against Edinburgh. Alan Quinlan reverts to number six to the exclusion of Niall Ronan.

Without all those listed above, this is — inarguably — a weakened Munster side; by no means, however, should it be considered a weak side. With the exception of Kiwi number eight Nick Williams, every member of the pack is either a seasoned senior international or — in the case of Darragh Hurley and Denis Fogarty — has been capped at A level.

Peter Stringer is again pushing Tomás O’Leary for the green number nine shirt and will be chomping at the bit, Aussie Paul Warwick has been doing superbly at out-half/full-back since his transfer from Connacht, while the centre pairing of Lifeimi Mafi and Keith Earls is as exciting as anything on these islands.

Factor in the hunger of young guns Denis Hurley (full-back) and Ciarán O’Boyle (wing), the pace of Lewis, and there’s no reason why Munster shouldn’t come away from Rodney Parade with at least four points and re-take their position at the top of the table.

This is another big game for Munster, an opportunity to maintain their good form this season; doubtless, under coach Tony McGahan – who has made the Magners League a high priority — they will approach it as such.