Denis Leamy: 'Lions are extremely dangerous especially in broken play'

Meanwhile, Ian Costello has given new signing Dian Bleuler his first start in a Munster shirt

Emmanuel Tshituks of the Lions during the URC match between Lions and Leinster.

Munster interim boss Ian Costello will press new signing Dian Bleuler into immediate action when the Reds resume their URC campaign against a dangerous Lions side at Thomond Park on Saturday (7.35pm).

With six props currently injured, the province signed South African Bleuler alongside Young Munster’s Conor Bartley during the month’s break and Costello has given the 25-year-old former Shark a debut at the earliest opportunity in this first competitive match since Graham Rowntree’s departure as head coach on October 29.

Munster are looking to draw a line under the opening six-match block of URC games which has left them in 12th place in the table after two wins and four defeats. A win against the fourth-place Lions would end a run of three URC defeats in a row on the road and represent an ideal start to a challenging block with the Champions Cup pool campaign getting underway seven days later.

Defence coach Denis Leamy, who with attack coach Mike Prendergast signed two-year contracts earlier this week, on Tuesday sang the praises of the former Springbok Under-20 prop Bleuler.

“Dian has come in and he’s been finding his feet,” Leamy said. “It’s different for him, the weather is one big thing, he hasn’t taken off the big coat yet!

Dian Bleuler was signed from Sharks this season

“He’s coming from a very different part of the world but he’s settled in really well. He’s been hungry for detail and he’s hungry to learn and he’s really excited to get the opportunity to play for Munster and get stuck in.”

Munster welcome back summer signing Thaakir Abrahams to the left wing after an injury against Zebre in round two and centre Alex Nankivell, who partners Tom Farrell in midfield after three games out with a hip issue. Outside back Shane Daly returns to the replacements bench having also been absent since the defeat at Zebre. Starting lock Evan O’Connell, one of four academy players named, makes his URC debut.

Leamy warned a return to winning ways against the Lions cannot be taken for granted.

“They’re incredibly dangerous. They put you on high alert in terms of the game they play and it’s quite different in many ways to any of the other teams in the league. 

"Their ability in broken play is exceptional and that fractured game, whether you create it through a mistake or a knock-on, maybe a poor offload decision or a kick, or it’s something they create through a turnover on the ground through an amazing amount of poachers – their back rowers are exceptional in terms of fetching and poaching – those first couple of phases they are absolutely lethal with their speed. It’s definitely a big challenge.” 

MUNSTER: M Haley; S McCarthy, T Farrell, A Nankivell, T Abrahams; B Burns, E Coughlan; D Bleuler, D Barron - captain, J Ryan; E O'Connell, F Wycherley; J O'Donoghue, Alex Kendellen, G Coombes. 

Replacements: N Scannell, K Ryan, S Archer, R Quinn, J Hodnett, P Patterson, T Butler, S Daly. 

EMIRATES LIONS: Q Horn; R Kriel, H van Wyk, M Louw – captain, E van der Merwe; K Wolhuter, M van den Berg; J Schoeman, PJ Botha, A Ntlabakanye: R Schoeman, R Delport; J Cairns, WJ Steenkamp, F Horn. 

Replacements: F Marais, M Naude, C van Vuuren, R Nothnagel, JC Pretorius, S Nohamba, T Mafura, E Cronje. 

Referee: Adam Jones (Wales).