Munster eye another huge scalp but Erasmus expecting bruiser

The inclusion of seven players in Ireland’s 23-man squad against Canada tomorrow along with the absence of several others means that Munster will be severely depleted when they take on the powerful Maori All Blacks at a sold-out Thomond Park tonight.

While there is delight in the province that Jack O’Donoghue and Billy Holland will earn their first caps at the Aviva and there has been a call-up as well for Keith Earls and captain Peter O’Mahony to start with Dave Kilcoyne, John Ryan and Donnacha Ryan on the bench, it still leaves the Tommy O’Donnell captained Munster with a mountain to climb if they are to maintain a proud record against overseas touring teams.

Furthermore, Simon Zebo, Conor Murray and CJ Stander are being kept back for next week’s monumental rematch against New Zealand and perhaps the most disappointing aspect of all is the omission of out-half Tyler Bleyendaal for tonight’s clash.