Laulala plans to battle Earls for 13 jersey

Former All Black centre Casey Laulala has made it clear he is not prepared to hand over the Munster 13 jersey to Keith Earls without a fight.

New head coach Rob Penney has kept faith with his former Canterbury protégé Laulala, signed this summer from Cardiff, in a midfield partnership with fellow new boy James Downey for tonight’s visit to Ulster in the RaboDirect Pro12 (7.05pm).

It will mean a third game in-a-row for the combination having helped secure opening wins over Edinburgh and Benetton Treviso in the past two weeks and with Earls cleared to play by the IRFU for the first time this season alongside fellow internationals Ronan O’Gara and Conor Murray, Penney has pointedly kept faith with the players who have given his Munster tenure a flying start.

Earls, who has made no secret of his desire to play outside centre rather than the wing or full-back, O’Gara and Murray have all been kept waiting in the wings, named as replacements for this evening’s Ravenhill clash, the first Irish derby of the season, with Laulala continuing at 13, Ian Keatley at fly-half and Duncan Williams at scrum-half.

For Laulala that represents a vote of confidence from Penney and new backs coach Simon Mannix.

“Rob and Simon have made it clear that they’ll do whatever is best for the team and it’s the team that comes first,” Laulala said.

“So if that is to have me and James in the middle then obviously that’s how they see it.

“Earlsy’s so talented and then there’s the younger boys so it’s a good healthy relationship. If somebody comes in, I’ll give them my full support and hopefully vice versa, that they’d do the same for me.

“I just make sure that I get myself ready so that whenever I get a chance to play, I’ll play. Obviously the priority is for the Irish boys to get exposure but I’ve been around long enough that hopefully I can pass on something different and help the boys out. I’m happy with how it’s going so far.”

Laulala, 30, admitted Munster’s Heineken Cup quarter-final defeat at Thomond Park last season to eventual runners-up Ulster had left those players involved that day with a point to prove.

Asked if the 22-16 Easter Sunday defeat last April had been mentioned in the Munster camp this week, Laulala said “a little bit”.

“I know what it’s like playing there, for Cardiff, and it’s going to be tough, more so now it’s a derby and there’s obviously a bit of a thing going on from last year in terms of the [Heineken Cup] play-offs. So it’s going to be tough but the boys have prepared well and hopefully we’ll do our job.

“It’s a totally different atmosphere and chemistry this year. Obviously the Munster boys that were involved, they’ve got something to prove but other than that, we like to focus on what’s important and that’s execute our game-plan and bring our physicality. They’re so physical up there, I think they do intimidate teams with that physicality.”

Ulster head coach Mark Anscombe is hoping, but not expecting, Munster to be intimidated. The Kiwi renews rivalry with Penney having been Auckland and North Harbour coach during the Munster boss’s reign at Canterbury and he said the provincial rivalry in this part of the world was just as strong.

“It’s our first derby of the season and there’s a lot of history between the two teams so it should be a great occasion. They will be the best team we’ve played against so far this year and their history shows what they’re capable of doing.

“Of course when you talk about Ulster and Munster confronting each other, the perfect analogy back home is Canterbury and Auckland. They are two great unions, and have wonderful track records and have magnificent games against each other. I can imagine the same intense feeling here.

“There is obviously great rivalry and both teams have outstanding past history of what they achieved. They will guarantee it will be another outstanding game.

“But let’s not forget, there’s no prouder union in the competition than Munster and there’s never going to be an easy game against them so we need to perform to our capabilities to come away with a win. I’m really hoping that we get a big home crowd out to support us and I really want us to get a victory.”