Munster must stand firm at set-pieces

Munster v Scarlets:MUNSTER COACH Tony McGahan makes eight changes, including one positional, from the side that lost in disappointing fashion to the Dragons. Denied the international contingent, the Australian is also without Lifeimi Mafi who must serve a one-game automatic suspension for accumulating three yellow cards.

Niall Ronan and Ian Dowling return following injury – prop Dave Ryan is named on the bench for the first time since recovering from shoulder surgery – while McGahan has elected to tweak his team to give several squad players the opportunity to start a game.

Scott Deasy is at fullback, Paul Warwick switches to outhalf with Tom Gleeson partnering Jean de Villiers in the centre. Julien Brugnaut and Damien Varley get a chance in the frontrow while Billy Holland, impressive against the Dragons, retains his place beside Mick O’Driscoll. Dolphin provides two of the backrow with Ronan the exception. There is experience and quality aplenty on the bench, especially Denis Hurley, Duncan Williams and Alan Quinlan.

The Scarlets flattered to deceive a tad during the Heineken Cup but they are a better side than their position in the league – second from bottom – suggests and travel to Cork with a strong side.

The Welsh side thumped Ulster in their most recent outing and know they can ill-afford many more defeats if they hope to keep their hopes of European qualification alive. Hooker Ken Owens and centre Jonathan Davies have been released from the national squad and play while two players who excelled against Ulster retain their places: 19-year-old scrumhalf Tavis Knoyle and gargantuan, straight running wing Joe Ajuwa.

Scarlets coach Nigel Davies admitted: “We have two historically tough matches to face now away in Munster and Edinburgh. We are just focusing on these two games as the first stage in a very important run-in to the end of the season for us.

“If we can go away and get something out of these next two games, it will put in a relatively strong position moving forward.”

If Munster can hang on in the set-piece then they possess the polish behind the scrum to eke out a narrow victory.

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

SCARLETS: D Newton; J Ajuwa, R King, J Davies, A Fenby; R Priestland, T Knoyle; I Thomas, K Owens, D Manu; L Reed, D Day: J Turnbull, R Pugh, D Lyons (capt). Replacements: P John, E Phillips, D Welch, R McCusker, M Roberts, D Evans, G Maule Referee: Neil Patterson (Scotland).

Verdict: Munster to win.