Thomond Park all set for spicy Munster - Connacht derby
And Lam has done so even though he has as many as 15 players — including regulars Tom McCartney, Rodney Ah You, Quinn Roux, Nepia Fox-Matamua and Jake Heenan — all out due to injury.
Lam’s Munster counterpart Anthony Foley also has a few problems in this regard, and there are six alterations in his side from their last outing against Treviso in the European Champions Cup. First-choice hookers Mike Sherry and Duncan Casey and scrum-half Conor Murray are among Foley’s most notable absentees but true to form, neither coach is making too big a deal of the injuries and are instead looking forward to a contest that will tell them a whole lot about the true merit of their respective teams.
“Injuries apart, we’ve picked this team based on the weather expected tomorrow as well as the game plan we have in place to try and deal with Munster’s strengths,” Lam explained. “We have a long list of casualties but as I’ve said before, it’s up to the next guy to come in and do the job, and I’m really pleased with the way the players, especially the young guys, have stepped up so far this season. The amount of youth coming through is exciting, with 13 of our matchday squad either graduates or current members of the Connacht academy.
“We are under no illusion as to the task awaiting us in Limerick. Axel (Anthony Foley) has done a great job in moulding and building a tough and resilient Munster side over the past two years. So our teamwork and work ethic on and off the ball will need to be at its best to give us a chance of getting the four points on offer.”
Connacht will certainly look the part in their super hero inspired, brand new Green Lantern jersey, a tie-in with DC Comics, and will enjoy the support of a record number of fans travelling down the N18 in search of their first competitive victory over Munster at Thomond Park since 1986.
Lam has raised eyebrows by selecting Rob Henshaw at full-back, the position he filled in his younger days at Buccaneers and Connacht before moving up to the centre with the province and, of course, with Ireland over the last few years.
On this occasion, inspirational centre Bundee Aki is partnered in midfield by Craig Ronaldson, with Matt Healy returning after injury on the left wing. Connacht were already riding high with eight wins out of nine to their credit this season when they enjoyed another big boost this week with their exciting scrum-half Kieran Marmion signing a new two-year contract.
He is partnered at half-back by AJ McGinty, who makes his first start having joined Connacht after a successful World Cup with the US.
Veteran John Muldoon leads the side from number six in a pack that sees World Cup prop Nathan White and number eight Eoghan Masterson the only survivors of the eight that did so well against Brive.
Even though Munster usually had it their own way against Connacht in Foley’s own playing career, he insists that he never took the result of any game against them for granted.
“I played against them when we won 3-0 and 6-3, hard-fought affairs above in Athlone and the Sportsground,” he recalls. “Today, they’re very good, very organised. They’re a growing club. A lot of credit has to go to Pat Lam and what he has done since his arrival. They’re rightly top of the table. If you go to the Liberty Stadium and win, you deserve everything you get. We don’t look up at them, we don’t look down on them. We will look each other square in the eye and just go at it.”
Lucas Gonzalez Amoroaino, who played five games for Argentina in the recent World Cup, makes his first start on the left wing. Tomás O’Leary replaces Murray and will use his undoubted class and experience to help his side ward off the threat posed by Marmion. James Cronin wins his 50th Munster cap at loosehead with Robin Copeland in from the start at number eight and skipper CJ Stander on the blind-side flank.
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