Penney braced for Ulster’s ‘benchmark’ challenge

Munster’s bid to close the gap on RaboDirect Pro12 leaders Ulster tomorrow at Thomond Park (5.30pm) may be enhanced by the return of an Ireland Test trio but Rob Penney is under no illusions about the size of the task.

Conor Murray, Peter O’Mahony and Simon Zebo could all feature for third-placed Munster as head coach Penney’s side bid to exact revenge for September’s league defeat at Ravenhill.

More recently, Penney has been impressed by the way fellow New Zealander Mark Anscombe’s side rebounded in superb style from their first defeat of the campaign, at home to Northampton Saints in the Heineken Cup, by beating Leinster 27-19 at Ravenhill last Friday to make it 11 wins from 11 in the league so far and open up a nine-point lead at the top over second-place Scarlets, 14 points clear of his own side.