Munster wary of derby pitfalls
They currently head the table with 36 points from their 10 outings and with Connacht in second-last spot and without a win in their last five competitive matches, Tony McGahan’s side should have little difficulty in maintaining their position.
But these are trying times for the Munster squad for whom little has gone right of late. Furthermore, they travel to the none-too-hospitable Galway venue without a number of front-line internationals who are being rested under the IRFU Player Welfare Programme and, of course, the suspended Paul O’Connell.
In the latter’s absence, Ronan O’Gara has been named captain and resumes his long-term partnership with Peter Stringer at half-back. Paul Warwick takes up his customary position at full-back against his old team-mates, although the entire three-quarter line that started the side’s most recent outing against the Ospreys in the Heineken Cup has been replaced.
Up front, New Zealander Peter Borlase starts in the problematic tight-head position with young Mike Sherry coming in for his first start at hooker. Ian Nagle and Donnacha Ryan form the second row, with another of the younger school, Paddy Butler, linking up in the back-row with Alan Quinlan and Niall Ronan.
Connacht are deprived of two key forwards, skipper and number eight John Muldoon and prop Brett Wilkinson, through injury and regular full-back Gavin Duffy is another enforced absentee. Ian Keatley, who is said to be on his way to Munster next season, switches from out-half to number 15 in a side captained from the centre by 28-year-old Keith Matthews.
Coach Eric Elwood is relieved that Ezra Taylor has recovered from injury to replace Muldoon in the back-row, while hooker Sean Cronin will be all out to show off his paces once again as he contemplates a move away from the Sportsground.
Leinster are said to be favourites for his signature at the moment but it could be that a return to his native province would appeal more to this highly-promising forward.
Munster have lost only once to Connacht in the Magners League since 1986. It happened in the corresponding fixture two years ago when the home side came out on top by 12-6.
Anything other than another Munster victory would come as a big surprise though, all the more so because defeat in this game would surely cause further turbulence in a camp that must be reeling after the events of the last eight days or so. Sensibly, too, they are taking nothing for granted, a point graphically made by Alan Quinlan.
“The disappointment of that defeat in Swansea is still there but we have to put it behind us,” he emphasised.
“We will focus for the next three weeks on the Magners League, starting with this game in Connacht. Galway is never an easy place to go to and try get a result. We’d expect a typical derby encounter. There are no surprises when you play Connacht.
“They’re a good physical side and they are strong up front. They have pace in the backs with the likes of Fionn Carr and they’ve the kickers to punish us if we don’t keep our discipline. So it’s a big challenge and I’d imagine it’ll be a tight game.”
The game is almost certain to go ahead in spite of recent weather. The protective straw covering was removed from the pitch yesterday and while a spokesman revealed “the playing surface was firm”, he added: “the thaw has set in and it should be fine by match time.”
However, temperatures remain low and with heavy rain predicted, this could develop into a battle of the respective forward packs.
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