Experience keeps O’Driscoll on toes

Mick O’Driscoll will keep his charges well in rein as Munster go in search of another crucial RaboDirect Pro12 victory over Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade tomorrow night.

The experienced international second-rower is looking forward to the clash, but recognised yesterday that nothing will come easy against a team that has posed all sorts of problems for his side in the past.

“Our record against them over there hasn’t been great in recent times,” he said. “I think they were the one Welsh side that beat us in Wales last season. I do know that they are always very competitive opposition on their own patch.

“They’re a very difficult side to play against because they’ll try to play rugby from anywhere, and they don’t shirk from trying to take on the opposition up front.

“Yet,” he added, “there is a good buzz about this squad. There’s a resolve there that I think was evident last weekend against Cardiff.

“We raced into what looked to be a commanding lead and then the lads did it too when we had to get stuck in and defend that lead.

“But league positions count for nothing. It’ll be all down to the relative performances on the night.”

With 20 players either injured or not available to train because of their involvement with the national squad, Munster named a 29-man squad for the game.

Danny Barnes is out after picking up a knee injury in the win over Cardiff Blues last Friday but recent signing Save Tokula is named in the squad and will probably start the game alongside Lifeime Mafi.

Also included are Damien Varley and Denis Hurley. Both were in Carton House for the week with the national squad but have been released back to boost Munster.

The Dragons may have only beaten Munster once in the last nine meetings but they have also only lost once at home this season — beaten 10-6 by Llanelli Scarlets in December.

That record should be more than enough warning for Munster as they bid to motor on in their quest for a home semi-final; O’Driscoll will be making the point forcibly in his pre-match team talk.

MUNSTER SQUAD: F Jones, L O’Dea, S Scanlon, J Murphy, D Hurley, S Tokula, L Mafi, I Keatley, S Deasy, T O’Leary, D Williams, C Sheridan, M Horan, W du Preez, S Henry, M Sherry, D Fogarty, D Varley, J Ryan, S Archer, BJ Botha, I Nagle, D Foley, M O’Driscoll, B Holland, T O’Donnell, Dave O’Callaghan, P Butler, J Coughlan.