Munster forwards can build platform

Munster v Edinburgh:MUNSTER EXCHANGE the warmer climes of Lanzarote for the chill of Cork as they resume the defence of their Magners League title in a contest that pits third against fifth. A victory for the Irish province – they have a game in hand on their Scottish opponents – would see them clamber above Edinburgh in the table.

Coach Tony McGahan won’t have to impress upon his charges the importance of prevailing in duels with fellow contenders for the play-offs. Munster are without their international contingent who started the game in Paris but can call upon Donnacha Ryan, who came off the bench against the French. He partners captain Mick O’Driscoll in the secondrow.

The home side boasts a formidable pack in which there is both plenty of experience in the form of Marcus Horan and Alan Quinlan, balanced alongside the footballing skills of Niall Ronan and Dolphin’s James Coughlan, the latter named at number eight.

There’s little doubt if the forwards can establish a reasonable platform then they have the backs to capitalise. Paul Warwick moves from fullback to outhalf, where he’ll enjoy the quicksilver service of Peter Stringer.

The three-quarter line looks perfectly equipped to either bludgeon or employ more subtle methods in discovering any chinks in the Edinburgh defence. Switching from wing to fullback won’t cost Denis Hurley a second thought.

There is a youthful look to Munster’s bench, with academy duo hooker Mike Sherry and outhalf Scott Deasy joined by scrumhalf Duncan Williams and flanker Tommy O’Donnell, the latter paid on development contracts.

Edinburgh travel without a number of first-choice players, including their leading points’ scorer and place-kicking metronome Chris Paterson (kidney), Phil Godman (head), Ross Rennis (knee), Jim Thompson (knee) and Ally Hogg (hip). Prop Allan “Chunk” Jacobsen, Mike Blair and Simon Webster, Scottish internationals all, begin on the bench.

The Scottish side will be captained by 24-year-old scrumhalf Greig Laidlaw and he’ll be partnered at halfback by David Blair, Mike’s brother, who has just recovered from injury. Coach Rob Moffat is able to call upon giant secondrow Jim Hamilton, despite the latter playing 70 minutes in Scotland’s defeat to Wales at the Millennium Stadium.

“I’m sure he (Jim Hamilton) will make an impact. Another game under his belt will stand Jim in good stead for Scotland when the Six Nations programme restarts,” Moffat explained.

“Now with just seven matches remaining before the play-offs, it is imperative that we get as much as we can from every game and we are looking forward to the challenge of facing Munster.

“We know just how strong Munster are so it will be a thorough test for our players and one we will be prepared for.”

McGahan is equally aware of the importance of the current tranche of matches. “It has been a tough league season so far and it is only going to get harder. The third phase of the campaign, during the Six Nations is very important and one in which we made good ground last season.

“Everything is so tight, with only eight points covering the top eight teams, and everyone is looking to knock their rivals out of the play-off zone. We all want a top-four finish and the new system means that every team will have something to play for right up to the end of the regular league season.

“Those final four rounds are going to be incredibly intense and cut throat. It is going to be a battle to the death and our eyes are firmly fixed on a top-two finish in order to secure a home semi-final. We put a lot of store on winning the Magners League title last year because we knew it would be a real test of the strength of our overall squad. The same will be true this season, but we then have the added spice of possibly competing in a knock-out section.”

That countdown starts tonight.

MUNSTER: D Hurley; D Howlett, L Mafi, J de Villiers, I Dowling; P Warwick, P Stringer; M Horan, D Fogarty, T Buckley; D Ryan, M O’Driscoll (capt); A Quinlan, N Ronan, J Coughlan. Replacements: M Sherry, J Brugnaut, B Holland, T O’Donnell, D Williams, S Deasy, T Gleeson.

EDINBURGH: B Cairns; M Robertson, N De Luca, J Houston, T Visser; D Blair, G Laidlaw (capt); K Traynor, A Kelly, G Cross; J Hamilton, S MacLeod; A MacDonald, R Grant, D Callam. Replacements: R Grant, A Jacobsen, C Hamilton, F McKenzie, M Blair, R Hutton, S Webster.

Referee: T Hayes (Wales).

Last meeting: At Murrayfield – Edinburgh 7 Munster 12.

Leading points scorers: Munster – Jeremy Manning 30. Edinburgh – Chris Paterson 115.

Leading try scorers: Munster – Nick Williams 4. Edinburgh – Tim Visser 3.

Verdict: Munster to win.