Munster can raise the bar again

RUGBY:ANOTHER MOMENT of truth then, another epic battle in their never-ending European odyssey and another season-defining game. If Munster are to go all the way this season in the Heineken European Cup and join the crème de la crème of European rugby as two-time winners, this will undoubtedly be one to tell the grandchildren about.

Already having emerged from the toughest pool this competition has surely ever thrown up - largely on foot of which a new seeding system will ensure it is never likely to be repeated - Munster now face the English Premiership leaders in their own Kingsholm fortress amid the din generated by their mystical Shed and the Red Army, with an away semi-final and possibly an away final to come.

Facing foes who have comfortably beaten them twice here before, and have lost only two of their last 28 games at home, one would have thought this would be an occasion for wise old heads. However, as heard on the grapevine, Declan Kidney has made something of a brave/risky selection (dilute to taste), in selecting the comparatively callow duo of Tomás O'Leary at scrumhalf and Denis Hurley at fullback ahead of the vastly experienced pair of Peter Stringer and Shaun Payne.

For Stringer, it compounds a miserable season and leaves John Hayes as the only player to start all 10 quarter-finals. Stringer's form, it is true, has been a little patchy but his service remains peerless and his experience of these occasions priceless. That said, O'Leary is arguably the most improved player on the Irish provincial circuit in the last 12 months or so, and his once ponderous pass has become quicker, longer and more accurate in supplementing his pace around the fringes.

Payne, at 36, has already managed one campaign more than either he or Munster could have anticipated. Nonetheless, he was nothing but error-free throughout the pool stages and the inclusion of Hurley, after just eight Magners League games, is undoubtedly a gamble. No one would have raised their eyebrows on hearing of this selection more than Gloucester coach Dean Ryan, who will assuredly have asked Ryan Lamb to go against his instincts and test the young fullback under a high ball or three early on.

Payne has not even made a bench featuring the vast experience of Stringer, Anthony Foley, Frankie Sheahan and Mick O'Driscoll, which is fair enough as had Payne been picked there it would hardly have been a statement of trust in Hurley, who has looked very assured in his five outings to date. Kieran Lewis provides more cover across the three-quarter line, while Doug Howlett can cover full-back.

"Obviously it's never easy to leave good players out of your side," Kidney was quoted as saying, "but the side we have selected reflects the competition there is for places, and we are fortunate in the quality of players we have in the squad." It seems recent form on the pitch and the training ground justifies such bold choices.

Ryan himself had some tricky posers to resolve himself, and in opting for the more mobile Andy Titterall ahead of Olivier Azam and their go-to lineout option Alex Brown alongside Italian lock Marco Bortolami, Gloucester are clearly acutely conscious of the threat posed by Paul O'Connell and Alan Quinlan in Munster's defensive lineout.

It will come as no succour to Munster's supporters Ryan has also omitted Iain Balshaw in preferring the fit-again Olly Morgan at fullback and Chris Paterson on the wing - the latter therefore also easing the pressure on Lamb by assuming the place-kicking duties. "Iron" Mike Tindall also returns to the bench after recovering from the torn liver and punctured lung he sustained in England's Six Nations opener against Wales.

The threat posed by Anthony Allen and James Simpson-Daniel to the occasionally porous Lifeimi Mafi-Rua Tupoki midfield is a concern, as is the presence of Nigel Owens as referee in such a partisan cauldron.

Territory courtesy of Ronan O'Gara's boot, solidly accurate setpieces and hugely aggressive defence with plenty of double tackles, as well as lots of hard yards close in from O'Connell and co look to be the order of the day. In attempting to control the tempo Munster will need to pick their moments to up their own tempo and unleash the Kiwi axis.

Bearing in mind the three-to-one ratio in favour of home wins over the last 11 years, the odds favour Gloucester. If anything the two selections throw further doubt on Munster's prospects. Yet you can't help thinking that the likes of Jerry Flannery, O'Connell and Quinlan will be straining at the leash, and Ireland's disappointments might ultimately work to Munster's benefit. And as we know, if any team can win here today, it is them.

Previous meetings: (2002-03) Gloucester 35 Munster 16; Munster 33 Gloucester 6. (2003-04) Gloucester 22 Munster 11; Munster 35 Gloucester 14.

Betting (Paddy Powers): 10/11 Gloucester, 20/1 Draw, 10/11 Munster.

Results so far: Gloucester - 32-14 v Ulster (a); 26-18 v Ospreys (h); 31-7 v Bourgoin (a); 51-27 v Bourgoin (h); 15-32 v Ospreys (a); 29-21 v Ulster (h). Munster - 23-24 v Wasps (a); 36-13 v Clermont (h); 29-16 v Llanelli (a); 22-13 v Llanelli (h); 19-26 v Clermont (a); 19-3 v Wasps (h).

Leading try scorers: Gloucester - R Lamb 4, I Balshaw, A Qera 3 each. Munster - S Payne, R Tupoki, M Horan 2 each.

Forecast: Munster to win.