Focused Munster to repel Bourgoin

RUGBY/Munster v Bourgoin: They've long since had the longest coronation in rugby history but despite the air of expectation, the old bearpit should be at its heaving, throbbing best long before 5.30pm, for the champions' first home game in the Heineken European Cup since that day of days on May 20th.

The cognoscenti in the expensive seats in Thomond Park have always maintained the unbeaten European Cup record there will fall almost when least expected; as threatened by the unrated Dragons here last season.

"The one thing you can never do is under-estimate a French side," opines Shaun Payne. "As soon as you do that, that's when you get bitten in the ass."

Those sentiments are, needless to say, echoed by coach Declan Kidney, who always shifts uneasily in the build-up to a game such as this. "We respect everybody. There's a lot of nonsense being spoken about this game, that we're guaranteed a win. I don't see it that way."

For starters, he reminds you that Bourgoin are professionals, and he has studied the mid-table French Top 14 outfit over several games.

"They shunted the Stade Français scrum around, moving them at will," Kidney contends, and highlighted a statistic that was relayed on French television during that 41-27 defeat in Paris which showed that Bourgoin also had the most efficient lineout on their own throw in the Top 14.

Clearly, even the excellent Munster defensive lineout - strengthened still further by the return of Alan Quinlan to the starting line-up - will have its work cut out eating into the Benoit Cabello throw. Even without French lock Pascal Pape, any lineout with Bryce Williams (recalled in one of six changes from last week) and athletic 6ft 4in backrower Julien Bonnaire should be efficient.

Behind them, Mike Prendergast will surely be looking to have a huge game as well as providing plenty of insider information, the classy Benjamin Boyet is regarded by many French observers as the most accomplished outhalf in their domestic game and there are few more dynamic ball-carriers in this competition than their Tongan centre Salesi Finau. Stop him at source and Munster will go a long way toward doing the same to Bourgoin.

Kidney also pointed to Bourgoin's recent 12-6 defeat at Biarritz, a commendable effort and another example of their liking for trench warfare, while even in last week's 13-5 defeat to Cardiff, "they got inside the Cardiff 22 in the 70th minute, and didn't leave it until they scored in the 77th minute. I've rarely seen a side inside the opposition 22 for seven minutes."

Of course, the Munster coach is picking out the best bits of Bourgoin. Nevertheless, they are the type of bruising, forward-oriented outfit who tend to give Munster trouble and there could be a few longeurs.

In their nine previous home wins over French opposition, only in the latter three did Munster win by 20-plus. The last two were both against Castres, and even when beating Bourgoin 26-3 in the final pool game three seasons ago, Munster required a late penalty try to secure the bonus point which earned them a quarter-final; this despite Bourgoin having nothing to play for.

This time they've more to play for after last week's defeat, for no team have ever qualified for the knock-out stages after losing their opening two matches. Their desultory visits to Lansdowne Road for assignments with Leinster in the last two seasons, losing 92-17 and 53-7, were widely, if wrongly, cited as examples of a supposedly dilettante attitude by the French to this competition.

If given a sniff early on their confidence and interest will swell, whereas if Munster set about them early and make a breakthrough or two, recent scars could fester and Bourgoin's interest and confidence might dip.

Kidney says he would gladly settle for another four-point haul, pointing out that if Munster had been offered eight points from their two openers last week they'd have bitten your hand off. By approaching it in that manner they're more likely to achieve the bonus, although as Anthony Foley was wont to say to his team-mates, the first four points are the bonus.

This will only be Munster's second game out of 79 in which Foley - the heartbeat of their team - will not be in their starting line-up. Denis Leamy thus becomes only the third player to don the number eight jersey. The other one? Greg Tuohy.

Quinlan's return, and Leamy's shift to the position where he was one of Ireland's players of the year last year shouldn't inconvenience them too much, and John O'Sullivan's greater match hardness and ability to play six or eight wins him a replacements' spot.

Presuming they are their professional, well-prepared selves, Munster ought to have the focus, the sustained intensity, the forward power, the assured Peter Stringer-Ronan O'Gara hands on the tiller and the firepower to at least achieve their primary objective.

MUNSTER: S Payne; J Kelly, B Murphy, T Halstead, I Dowling; R O'Gara, P Stringer; M Horan, F Sheahan, J Hayes, D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell (capt), A Quinlan, D Wallace, D Leamy. Replacements: A Kyriacou, F Pucciariello, M O'Driscoll, J O'Sullivan, T O'Leary, J Manning, L Mafi.

BOURGOIN: S Laloo; D Janin, G Bousses, S Finau, R Coetzee; B Boyet, M Prendergast; O Milloud, B Cabello, O Sourgens, C Del-Fava, B Williams, A Petrilli, M Rennie, J Bonnaire (capt). Replacements: J Genevois, P Cardinali, P Peyron, W Jooste, M Campeggia, F Denos, J Frier.

Referee: Wayne Barnes (England). Previous meetings: (1997-98) Munster 17 Bourgoin 15; Bourgoin 21 Munster 6; (2003-4) Bourgoin 17 Munster 18; Munster 26 Bourgoin 3.

Form so far: Munster - 21-19 v Leicester (a). Bourgoin - 5-13 v Cardiff (h).

Leading try scorers: Munster - D O'Callaghan, D Wallace 1 each. Bourgoin - Brice Monzeglio 1.

Leading points scorers: Munster - Ronan O'Gara 11. Bourgoin - Monzeglio 5.

Betting (Paddy Powers): 1/50 Munster, 40/1 Draw, 11/1 Bourgoin. Handicap odds (- Bourgoin +24pts) 10/11 Munster, 20/1 Draw, 10/11 Biarritz.

Forecast: Munster to win.