Glasgow face a daunting task

RUGBY:THERE IS more to this match than meets the eye. Munster are on top of the table and are protecting their position. They are playing in Cork. They have a pivotal match next week in the Heineken Cup at Stade Felix Mayol in Toulon. There are players on the pitch tonight who are hoping to hold the shirt for another week against the French side. There is more swirling around in Musgrave Park than Magners League points against a Scottish team in 10th place and who have won only four games from 11 played.

Overwhelming favourites is not a tag any team likes but Munster over the years have come to bear it lightly. Coach Tony McGahan has made nine changes to the side that started against Ulster, which allows Ronan O’Gara to return to outhalf. That shoves Paul Warwick back to fullback, while Lifeimi Mafi starts at inside centre in place of Sam Tuitupou. Johne Murphy comes back onto the left wing, with Denis Hurley on the bench.

The pack also has a different look about but remains peppered with household names. Darragh Hurley replaces Wian du Preez at loosehead prop and John Hayes starts on the other side of the frontrow in place of Tony Buckley, who is lying low with a virus.

Ireland lock Donncha O’Callaghan returns to the secondrow to partner Mick O’Driscoll with a backrow of David Wallace, captain Denis Leamy and James Coughlan at blindside.

Munster have dropped just three of a possible 30 points at home this season and have won their last four games against Scottish opposition, while Glasgow have won just one of their last five matches in all competitions. Since last January they have won away only once against Scarlets in May, so they bring very little to Cork in terms of performing on the road.

But Glasgow coach Seán Lineen can start with Scotland number eight Johnnie Beattie, who has been out with a shoulder injury since the summer, although a few other players are on the injury list after last week’s bruising encounter with Edinburgh.

Beattie comes in for Richie Vernon, who has a dead leg, as has hooker Fergus Thompson, who is replaced by fellow international Dougie Hall. On the wing, Alex Dunbar comes onto the wing for Hefin O’Hare, who has a calf injury.

“As for Munster, there’s such a confidence in them. The name Munster just seeps of rugby,” said Lineen.

MUNSTER: P Warwick; D Howlett, K Earls, L Mafi, J Murphy; R O’Gara, P Stringer; D Hurley, D Varley, J Hayes, D O’Callaghan, M O’Driscoll, J Coughlan, D Wallace, D Leamy. Replacements: M Sherry, D Kilcoyne, P Borlase, D Ryan, N Ronan, T O’Leary, S Tuitupou, D Hurley.

GLASGOW: Stortoni; A Dunbar, M Evans, P Murchie, DTH van der Merwe; R Jackson, C Gregor; R Grant, D Hall, M Low, R Gray, A Kellock, R Harley, J Barkley, J Beattie. Replacements: P McArthur, K Tkachuk, J Welsh, A Muldowney, R Wilson, H Pyrgos, D McCall, P Horne.

Referee: J Jones.

Verdict: Munster to win.