O’Mahony’s birthday wish
O’Mahony admits a win would be a perfect send-off for the province as they face into two upcoming matches on the road, away to Cardiff Blues and Edinburgh.
O’Mahony said: “We are delighted with our form so far, and two victories have been a great momentum builder.
“Losing to Wasps in a pre-season friendly was a bit of a shock to the system. We hadn’t lost in Musgrave Park in a few years and having not scored [Wasps won 15-0] gave us a bit of a scare. But we knew we were not far off the ball and we made it right the following week [against London Irish].”
In the absence of Paul O’Connell, O’Mahony has clearly been earmarked as a future permanent captain of the province and deems the role a massive honour.
“It’s huge for me, particularly if you look at the fellas that were there before me, guys that I looked up to since I was small when I was going to all the matches. It feels great, and I think it adds to my game sometimes to have a bit of pressure and having to make decisions and leading from the front.
“Although with guys like Micko [Mick O’Driscoll], Dougie [Doug Howlett] and James [Coughlan] around, I don’t have to take all the responsibility and they certainly don’t go quiet because I’m captain.”
The Scarlets have strengthened their forward pack this season and used power to good effect in the big win against Aironi and the narrow defeat to Connacht this season. Therefore, says O’Mahony, it will be imperative that Munster get set-piece play right from the whistle.
“From what we have seen of them, I think the game might well be won or lost up front; in the lineout, scrum and maul, so we’ve got to be accurate in all of those areas.”
Scarlets’ coach Nigel Davies is certainly pleased with the way his forwards have performed but less so with his backs, whom he has now challenged to lift their game.
He said: “It is just very frustrating that in a game in which we dominated for long parts, we did not take our chances to seal it.”
Munster’s win over Glasgow last week marked a milestone — they became the first side to win 12 consecutive matches in this league after a brilliant last surge towards the title last season and a perfect start in the opening fortnight. Tonight, O’Mahony hopes it won’t be unlucky 13.
MUNSTER: J Murphy; D Howlett, T Gleeson, L Mafi, D Hurley; I Keatley, P Stringer; M Horan, M Sherry, J Hayes; D Foley, M O’Driscoll; P O’Mahony (capt), J Coughlan, N Ronan.
Replacements: D Fogarty, W du Preez, BJ Botha, B Holland, T O’Donnell, D Williams, S Deasy, S Zebo.
SCARLETS: D Ford, L Williams, R Gomer Davies, G Maule, A Fenby, D Newton, R Tipuna, I Thomas (captain), K Myhill, R Thomas, L Reed, D Day, R McCusker, B Moran, J Turnbull.
Replacements: E Phillips, P John, R Jones, A Shingler, J Edwards, G Davies, A Thomas, L Rees.
Referee: A Macphrerson (Sco)
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