Munster look to catch Gloucester

Munster look to catch up on group two leaders Gloucester with their visit to Viadana this weekend, who have lost their opening three matches, conceding 190 points.

After routing the Italians 64-0 in Cork last Friday, they have made just one change with fit-again international John Kelly recalled on the wing in place of Mossie Lawlor following the knee injury he suffered in Ireland’s victory over Australia.

Ulster visit French side Biarritz in a must-win clash in Pool Six where both teams have four points, along with Northampton who visit winless Cardiff on Sunday.

Coach Alan Solomons recalls Adam Larkin at centre for Ryan Constable, who was concussed in the early stages of last week’s clash at Ravenhill.

Solomons feels that any psychological advantage Ulster may have had will be offset by the fact Biarritz are at home.

He said: “It will be an enormous challenge, but we don’t fear anything. We’ll be going into a hostile environment against a top quality team, but that’s what you look for in top-class rugby and we’ll be prepared.”

Ulster have not won in France before, but fly-half David Humphreys said: “The way the team is performing we’re ready to take that step.”

Meanwhile, Leicester Tigers may not have been roaring so loudly on the home front, but the only club to have won European rugby’s most coveted club prize twice have their sights firmly set on the hat-trick.

“Our league form may have been below par so far this season, but the Heineken Cup gives us a chance to show that we are still the best side in Europe,” said Ollie Smith, a try scorer in their priceless 24-12 Pool One victory in Beziers last Sunday.

Smith knows completing a French double at Welford Road tomorrow will leave the Tigers within touching distance of a home quarter-final place.

“In theory the return match should be easier, but we won’t be underestimating Beziers,” he said.

“They played really well and they will be watching the video this week to pinpoint any difficulties we had.

“We are very pleased to have come away with a win. It’s always difficult to get a result in France against a strong French team.”

Amatori and Calvisano’s shock victory over Neath was a bonus for Leicester, putting them in the driving seat – but Smith is taking nothing for granted.

“This is my third Heineken Cup season and it’s getting harder every year,” he said.

“Until last season no-one had ever retained the Heineken Cup. Now we want to set a new record and make it three in a row.”

Neath will be aiming to make amends in front of their own fans for becoming the victims of only the third Italian club to win a Heineken Cup tie, losing 38-29 after being 22-5 up at half-time.

Gloucester, who have replaced Leicester at the top of the Zurich Premiership, have yet to drop a point in Europe after making it three wins from three matches with their 33-16 Pool Two victory over Perpignan at Kingsholm, but they know the real test comes in Saturday’s return in France.

“Perpignan are a tough challenge up front, probably the biggest challenge we have faced all season in a scrummaging situation,” said coach Dean Ryan.

“With the French clubs you face a lot of power at the set piece. That is one of the reasons it will be so important to have Andy Hazell back.

“We have a strong back-row, but have missed a link man, an out-and-out number seven, and Andy will be invaluable in Perpignan.

“The absence of Jake de Boer hurts us, you can take 20 tackles off the count when he is not here. But he will be back next week.”

Ryan added: “We are sitting pretty at the top of the Zurich Premiership with our heads held high and we’re going well in the Heineken Cup.

“We need to stay steady and look at things we can impact on and concentrate on those areas.”