Munster scrum no pushover, warns Quins chief O’Shea

HARLEQUINS won’t target Munster’s scrum during Saturday’s Amlin Challenge Cup semi-final at Thomond Park, according to their director of rugby Conor O’Shea.

The scrum has been Munster’s Achilles heel all season and they struggled there again during last weekend’s Magners League win over the Ospreys. However, O’Shea insists it’s an area of Munster’s game that isn’t as weak as it’s perceived to be.

He said: “A lot of what’s happened for them at the scrum is down to interpretation and I don’t really buy it. I don’t think you can say there are any weaknesses in the Munster team and their scrum certainly isn’t weak.

“We’ve got a 20-year-old loosehead prop (Joe Marler), a 22-year-old hooker (James Johnston) and a 25-year-old tighthead (Joe Gray). This weekend will be a huge challenge for them and they’ll be asked a lot of questions.

“They’ll all be going up against three very good and very experienced individuals in that Munster front-row. If it’s going to be Tony Buckley, Damien Varley and Wian du Preez, you’re talking about three internationals.

“All of our guys will have massive respect for their opposite numbers this weekend and they’ll do their utmost to rise to the challenge, but I wouldn’t see us having any obvious advantage over Munster at the scrum.”

The Harlequins boss added that Saturday’s visit to the cauldron that is Thomond Park will provide a serious test of the character of his players. “You’re talking about the most difficult place to win in Europe, which I believe it undoubtedly is. It’s an unbelievably exciting prospect for our guys and how they respond will tell me a lot about what they’re made of.”

Meanwhile, O’Shea says Ugo Monye will be fully fit for Saturday’s game in Limerick. The England and Lions wing sat out yesterday’s training session in Guildford after picking up a knock to his right knee during Sunday’s win over Leeds.