PETER CLOHESSY, whose 26 week playing suspension has just ended, will sit on the bench for Munster against Australia at Thomond Park today. Clohessy received the suspension the day after Ireland played France in Paris last February.
He was called into the Munster squad last night after reserve prop Ian Murray had withdrawn from the squad. Following agreement with the Australians, Munster will have seven players on the bench as Mick Fitzgerald (Young Munster) has also been added to the replacements.
Clohessy will travel to Australia in January to play for Queensland. He had moved to Garryowen from Young Munster during the summer.
Clohessy was on the Munster team that beat Australia 22-19 at Musgrave Park in 1992. Following that match he was accused by Australian coach Bob Dwyer of foul play, a charge bitterly disputed by the then Munster coach Garret Fitzgerald, the captain Terry Kingston and the player himself. He went on to win his first Irish cap shortly after that match.
Munster have the opportunity today to succeed where Ireland, Ulster and Connacht failed in the final match of the Wallabies' Irish itinerary.
Munster teams have, through the years, risen to the challenge presented by touring teams - as no other Irish side has - and Munster can embellish their great record. And with the Wallabies going into the match with a 100 per cent record nine wins from nine matches on their journey through Scotland and Ireland - it increases the incentive, for Munster. Not that Munster ever need more incentive that the sight of a touring team's jersey.
The Australians are well aware of the task they face and of Munster's record against their predecessors. They will be particularly conscious of the most recent meeting in 1992 when Munster beat the then world champions. That was one of three victories Munster sides have attained over Australia with the initial one being in 1967 at Musgrave Park, the first by an Irish province over a major touring team. There followed victories at Musgrave Park in 1980 by 15-6 and then four years ago. In seven meetings between Munster and the Wallabies the score stands at three wins each and one draw, 3-3 in 1958 at Thomond Park.
While Thomond Park is renewned as formidable territory for visiting teams - the All Blacks and the Springboks will testify to that and more recently Wasps - Munster's three wins over the Wallabies have all been recorded at Musgrave Park. The 3-3 draw was the best result Munster achieved against Australia in Thomond Park. In the only other match played between the sides at Thomond Park Australia won 31-19 in a game played in dense fog in 1984.
So, should Munster win this afternoon, it will be their first triumph over the Wallabies at the famous Limerick venue. And Munster manager Colm Tucker made it clear yesterday that his side is ready to take on the tourists and give them an examination of consequence.
"You have to respect the Wallabies and we do. Their record on the tour speaks for itself. They field a very strong side with plenty of experience in it, but I have no doubt that if our forwards play as they can, and as they did for instance against Wasps, then I believe we can win. We have six internationals in our pack, and four in the back line. We go into the match as Irish provincial champions and we can enhance Munster and Irish rugby with a win."
Australia field two of the side that started against Ireland last Saturday in centre Jason Little and number eight Michael Brial. A third Brett Robinson, who will lead the team, came on as a replacement during the international. The match will also mark the last appearance of David Campese, one of the greatest wings' in the history of the game, in an Australian jersey in Ireland. He is the holder of 100 caps and is the leading try scorer in international rugby. His presence will enhance what promises to be a great occasion.
Five of the Munster team were on the side that defeated the Wallabies in 1992. They are right wing Richard Wallace, centre Brian Walsh, hooker Terry Kingston, second row Mick Galwey, the captain today, and number eight Ben Cronin. Centre Richard Tombs and number eight Brial are the survivors on the Australian team of four years ago.
Munster will need to set about their task with a will and total commitment from the outset. And a few points early on will be a great help to the cause. They may miss Gabriel Fulcher's presence in the line out so Galwey, Dara Kirby and Cronin will need to perform. Munster must also maul and ruck with the effect they revealed against Wasps. The back row of Anthony Foley, Cronin and David Corkery can have a profound influence. Likewise, the tackling must be quick and effective and half backs Killian Keane and Stephen McIvor must make the best use of possession, while Keane's tactical kicking should be well placed.
Obviously the Munster forwards must lay the foundations if the province is to win and that pack has the capacity to do that. Tucker has called for the crowd to get behind the side from the kick off and he need have few fears on that count. We could be in for another memorable occasion and a great match.
. The Lion's hopes of spending the crucial period around the first and second Tests at sea level in South Africa next summer have been wrecked by a fixture switch. The midweek game sandwiched between the two internationals on the coast at Cape Town on June 21st and Durban seven days later, has been switched from sea level at East London to Bloemfontein, where they will play Orange Free State, 5,000 feet up in the veld.
In the original schedule, the Lions were due to stay on the coast between the Tests to meet Border. That fixture has now been brought, forward by a month, with a consequent re shuffling of the early tour programme.
