Munster fringe should have enough edge to secure bonus-point victory

THERE ISN’T really a good time in broad terms to play Munster in their Limerick citadel but on the evidence of Tony McGahan’s selection for tonight’s game, Benetton Treviso have run into a home side that is at full strength, injuries notwithstanding.

The Australian has made nine changes and a positional switch to the team that was thumped in Belfast last time out. Six players are retained from the defeat to Ulster, Denis Hurley, Lifeimi Mafi, Wian du Preez, Damien Varley, James Coughlan and Johne Murphy, who moves from left to right wing.

There is little doubt McGahan has one eye on the resumption of the Heineken Cup next weekend when Munster entertain Castres at Thomond Park. That won’t distract from tonight’s remit but does allow him to reintegrate Irish squad members and polish team dynamics and patterns. Keith Earls should create space for those around him while Simon Zebo’s rugby education continues. BJ Botha’s scrum craft will be required against a heavyweight visiting pack.

Donnacha Ryan is preferred to Donncha O’Callaghan as a secondrow partner to Munster and Ireland captain Paul O’Connell, while the impressive Peter O’Mahony has recovered from a jaw injury. He is restored to a first-choice backrow alongside the in-form Niall Ronan and James Coughlan.

Treviso are fresh from their Italian derby victory over Aironi and coach Franco Smith makes only one alteration to the starting team with Fijian Manoa Vosawi replacing Robert Barbieri, who took a blow to the face and hasn’t recovered sufficiently.

It is interesting to note the Italian side has won three of their last four away matches in the tournament, beating Connacht, Ulster and the Glasgow Warriors on their travels. It is, however, to be a portent of events in Limerick tonight.

Munster won’t underestimate Treviso as others have done to their cost. No, they’ll thunder into their visitors with a gusto they reserve for European evenings. Several fringe players in the Munster squad have grasped the chances presented in the absence of established names and there is genuine pressure being applied in a couple of positions. There is no latitude for freewheeling.

It is easy to pigeonhole Italian sides, offering the caricature of the hard scrummaging and abrasive pack of forwards with direct if limited patterns. There is no doubt they enjoy the set-pieces and the collisions on the gain-line but Smith is trying to introduce a lighter touch to their back play.

Munster will want to bring width and a high tempo, varying the point of attack. Their work behind the scrum will need to be less lateral, the passing crisper, and the support lines sharper with better timing.They scored five tries when these teams last met at tonight’s venue and it would be a surprise if they weren’t able to secure a bonus-point victory.

MUNSTER: D Hurley; J Murphy, K Earls, L Mafi, S Zebo; R O’Gara, C Murray; W du Preez, D Varley, BJ Botha; D Ryan, P O’Connell (capt); P O’Mahony, N Ronan, J Coughlan. Replacements: D Fogarty, M Horan, S Archer, Donncha O’Callaghan, B Holland, T O’Leary, I Keatley, D Barnes.

BENETTON TREVISO: L McLean; L Nitoglia, T Benvenuti, A Sgarbi, B Williams; K Burton, T Botes; M Rizzo, F Sbaraglini, L Cittadini; A Pavanello (capt), C van Zyl; G Padro, A Zanni, M Vosawi. Replacements: D Vidal, M Muccignat, I Fernandez Rouyet, V Bernabò, E Pavanello, S Picone, E Gori, A Di Bernardo.

Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)

Verdict: Munster to win