Connacht braced for backlash as Reds seek boost

RABO DIRECT PRO12:

Rob Penney’s side have been licking their wounds after Glasgow Warriors recorded a 22-5 victory at Thomond Park. And a win over the westerners would be the perfect antidote as the countdown to their Marseilles mission.

Lam, though, is also hoping for a positive reaction from his own troops following an embarrassing defeat to Ulster last weekend.

“We know this is a must-win game for Munster,” admitted Lam. “Like us, they’ll be hurting after their loss last week and they’ll want to lay down a marker ahead of their big game with Toulon.

“We expect a big backlash and we need to be able to deal with it. We were so disappointed we didn’t make anything of the opportunities we created against Ulster last week.

“We need to be so clinical against a side like Munster who don’t give you many of those opportunities. It doesn’t get any bigger than Munster at home. It’s always a tough game whatever the venue.”

Lam has rung the changes this week after four successive games with the same starting 15. Willie Faloon is named at openside flanker for his first game in seven months, while Ronan Loughney and Andrew Browne are promoted from the bench to complete the changes to the pack.

There is also a reshuffle to the backline with scrum half Kieran Marmion the only player to line out in the same position as last week. Darragh Leader plays full back and Robbie Henshaw moves to outside centre. Matt Healy and Danny Poolman both return to replace the injured Fionn Carr and Tiernan O’Halloran, while Miah Nikora takes the number 10 jersey from Dan Parks.

Penney has also made changes in the Munster line-up, with no less than nine alterations from the defeat to Glasgow.

Damien Varley will lead his side into battle but there will be plenty of experience alongside to help the cause, not least through Paul O’Connell and Donncha O’Callaghan in the second row. BJ Botha has made a recovery from an ankle injury but is being kept under wraps in the hope that John Ryan can successfully fill the tight head position for much if not all of the contest.

Dave Kilcoyne starts at loose head and Paddy Butler replaces James Coughlan at number eight.

Duncan Williams teams up with Ian Keatley at half-back, while Denis Hurley, Johne Murphy and Andrew Conway all join James Downey and Gerhard van den Heever in the backline.

JJ Hanrahan who was ruled out earlier in the week has met with a specialist and it was confirmed he sustained a moderate groin tear and will be monitored by the medical staff on a daily basis.

As yet, he has not been ruled out of contention for the Heineken Cup tie in France.

For now, though, all concentration is on this match in Galway and Munster desperately need to win to boost their chances of securing a home semi final or, at least, of winning a place in the play offs.

But Lam has promised they will be made work extremely hard for the win and is enthused about the build up to the game.

“It’s been seven weeks since we’ve played at the Sportsground, and with a huge crowd expected it’s certainly going to be a special night. We can feel the buzz in training, the buzz around town. Everyone is up for it.”