O’Connell out as Foley warns Munster to step it up

Munster head coach Anthony Foley is demanding his players step up to the plate at the Stadio Monigo tonight (7pm Irish time) and beat Benetton Treviso, despite losing lock Paul O’Connell on the eve of the game.

The Ireland captain had been set to make his seasonal debut in Italy this evening in a much-needed return to the red jersey following Munster’s sloppy defeat at home to Edinburgh in last Friday’s Guinness Pro12 opener at Thomond Park.

The 34-year-old, however, was a late withdrawal from the squad, with Munster citing “personal reasons” and O’Connell did not board the flight yesterday.

O’Connell’s leadership and experience could be much missed at a venue in which Munster have only managed one win in four league visits.

Yet Foley has been able to recall two Ireland players from the summer’s tour to Argentina and one of them, full-back Felix Jones, will captain Munster for the first time, leading a side showing eight changes from the XV which started last weekend.

Loosehead prop James Cronin is the other, having made his Test debut against the Pumas in June while there are also first starts of the season for fellow front-rowers Duncan Casey at hooker and tighthead Stephen Archer, both of whom featured off the bench last week.

There will also be first starts for lock Dave Foley, openside flanker Tommy O’Donnell and a competitive Munster debut for No.8 Robin Copeland.

Aside from Jones at full-back the only other change in the backline sees Ivan Dineen come in at inside centre with new signing Andrew Smith moving to 13 and replacing Johne Murphy.

Head coach Foley is acutely aware of the difficulties of playing Treviso away, saying: “They are a good side. They play very well at home. Teams have gone there in the past and come up short. If you don’t go over there with the right mentality and put up a good show you are not going to have a chance.”

Munster have not begun a season with back-to-back defeats since 2004/05 but Treviso suffered a heavy opening loss at Ospreys, going down 44-13 last Friday.

TREVISO: S Ragusi; L Nitoglia, L Morisi, S Christie, M Campagnaro; J Carlisle, H Seniloli; M Muccignat, D Giazzon, R Harden; M Fuser, C Van Zyl – captain; M Swanepoel, T Vallejos Cinalli. M Luamanu.

Replacements: G Maistri, M Zanusso, S Manu, M Lazzaroni, M Barbini, A Sgarbi, A Esposito, J Ambrosini.

MUNSTER: F Jones (capt); A Conway, A Smith, I Dineen, S Zebo; I Keatley, D Williams; J Cronin, D Casey, S Archer; D Foley, B Holland; CJ Stander, T O’Donnell, R Copeland.

Replacements: K O’Byrne, J Ryan, BJ Botha, D O’Callaghan, S Dougall, C Sheridan, J Holland, R O’Mahony.

Referee: Andrew McMenemy (SRU).