McGahan keen for fast start to stay one step ahead of Ulster

FANS anticipating a leisurely New Year’s Day amble to Thomond Park for this evening’s Magners League clash between Munster and Ulster should consider quickening their step.

For the way both camps are talking, a fast-starting, head-on collision is on the cards and anyone left behind will have a struggle to catch up.

These interprovincial rivals both face speedy turnarounds following Monday night matches, Munster squeaking past Connacht in Galway and Ulster getting hammered at home by Leinster. And such is the nature of professional rugby at this time of year that both squads’ Irish international forwards and scrum-halves have spent much of the intervening period squeezing in an Ireland training camp.

At 7.30pm, the helter-skelter continues with Munster head coach Tony McGahan acutely aware of the need for a strong start, particularly in light of a five-try home defeat to Ulster in the league two seasons ago.

“Ulster have built their game around a really strong forward pack and with the South African influence they have there plus the local players, they have a very direct style of play,” the Australian said. “They have a very confrontational forward pack and I’m sure that will be the vehicle for them to come down and work to get a result.

“They did just that two years ago and it’s still really fresh in our memories. That’s what they’ve built on, that’s what they did to us that night and so we know what’s in front of us. It’s up to us to impose ourselves on the game.”

McGahan, who has made nine changes — two of them positional — from the side which started against Connacht, admitted that 37-11 drubbing on January 3, 2009 still hurts.

“Absolutely, and it will be a very strong reminder of what can happen if we don’t turn up at home and leave any opposition get a foothold inside the game.

“We’re used to winning on the road, we know what it does and all sides possess that ability if you give them enough chances. We’re certainly aware of that and the recent history that they’ve provided.”

Back in the 2008-09 season, Munster’s reverse to Ulster was a third Magners defeat in four outings, but McGahan’s side are in a much healthier position at the start of 2011, leading the table by eight points.

Hooker Jerry Flannery played that night and he returns for the first time since October, having recuperated from a calf problem to be handed a place on the bench with Damien Varley replacing Mike Sherry, who started against Connacht.

Mick O’Driscoll comes into the second row as Donnacha Ryan moves to number six in place of the injured Alan Quinlan, while Denis Leamy returns to captain the side at the expense of 20-year-old Paddy Butler, who made an impressive debut in the 16-12 win in Galway.

Scott Deasy starts at full-back as Paul Warwick switches to fly-half in the absence of Ronan O’Gara, rested under the Irish player management programme, while scrum-half Peter Stringer and wing Denis Hurley are the only other backs retained from Monday.

Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin has made 13 changes to his side for tonight’s derby after the 13-30 home loss to Leinster.

Only winger Simon Danielli and No.8 Robbie Diack remain in the starting line-up with South Africans Ruan Pienaar, Johann Muller and Pedrie Wanneburg all given the night off and BJ Botha on the bench.

Flannery will not be the only Ireland hooker returning to the action with Ulster’s Rory Best back to captain his province after more than a month out with the fractured cheekbone suffered during November’s Test against New Zealand.

Paddy Wallace has moved to fly-half at the request of the Ireland management and will be partnered at scrum-half by Paul Marshall, who, like McGahan, has warned against making a lethargic start.

“We have to either front-up from the word go and fancy our chances or go into the game a bit tentatively and come away with a real hiding,” Marshall said.

“In the two Bath games we conceded early tries and we have made it hard for ourselves in the last few games. Against Bath we came back, but against Leinster we gave ourselves too much to do. So it’s important we get off to a good start. We don’t want to be five or 10 points down after five minutes and we have to make sure we know we need a first big 10 to 20 minutes and get ourselves into the game.

“You can’t go down there and try and hold Munster out for 80 minutes, you have to go and attack them and hopefully that will be our mindset.”