SKY SPORTS have done much for the Heineken Cup, but the unwanted, TV-dictated Sunday brunch time kick-off isn’t uppermost amongst their contributions. In the troubled times that are in it, even Munster, the most committed of Europhiles, have found this one a relatively hard sell.
Recent events on the pitch possibly haven’t helped either. Not alone have the faithful seen their one-time European kingpins eclipsed by Leinster, but latterly by Ulster as well. To compound this, the last year or two of a transition in personnel has now been accentuated by one in playing style also.
Yet Munster need their supporters now as much as ever, for there will be a palpable hint of anxiety in the air tomorrow. If Edinburgh’s 45-0 home loss to Saracens was their heaviest Heineken Cup beating ever, then arguably Munster’s 21-17 defeat at a sodden Stade de France to Racing was their silliest. Having been the template for closing out games on the road Munster morphed into an example of how not to do it.
Ronan O’Gara was as culpable as anyone in opting for a couple of curiously risky plays around the half-hour mark, all the more so as the Rainmaster was striking the ball as sweetly as he has ever done. But after departing with the hamstring strain that has sidelined him today, his presence and kicking game were badly missed. It’s hardly any wonder. As the cup’s leading points accumulator (1,303) and most capped player (105), arguably no-one has left a more indelible imprint on the competition. It’s a tribute to his remarkable longevity that he has started all bar three of Munster’s last 104 games stretching over 14 seasons.
Ian Keatley has enjoyed his best run of form to date, but the pressure is on here and more than anyone, the knowledgeable home crowd will be giving the 25-year-old every encouragement. While this will be his first Heineken Cup start at outhalf, it’s worth noting that he’s played over a century of league games in five seasons with Connacht and Munster.
With Keatley moving to outhalf, Denis Hurley returns to the number 15 jersey while up front Mick Sherry and a fit-again Donncha O’Callaghan start ahead of Damien Varley and Billy Holland, who revert to a bench that now also includes Felix Jones and JJ Hanrahan.
Edinburgh too will have been hurting all week and in word and selection, Michael Bradley is seeking a harder physical edge from his team. Gregor Hunter replaces the injured captain Greig Laidlaw (shoulder) at outhalf while fullback Greig Tonks and centre Ben Atiga have recovered from hand and hip injuries respectively to make their cup debuts, while Scotland tighthead Geoff Cross and Fijian number eight Netani Talei are recalled.
Curiously, this is Munster’s first ever meeting against Scottish opposition in the Heineken Cup. Given the sides’ familiarity, it’s hardly a step into the unknown, and with Paul O’Connell back in harness, Munster should have more oomph up front. Their scrum and maul went pretty well last week, and they should also have plenty more strike power about them given the form and well-being of Casey Laulala, Doug Howlett and Simon Zebo.
The sense of unease may be heightened by the memory of Munster’s last Heineken Cup outing here in April – unusually a losing one to Ulster in that seismic quarter-final which ended a 17-match winning streak in the Cup at Thomond Park. Yet that was only their second defeat in 44 Heineken Cup matches at their Limerick fortress.
True, the bearpit may have lost some of its old impregnability. But while it may not be perfect timing, and it could be nervy at times, this is still Munster in the Heineken Cup at Thomond Park.
MUNSTER: D Hurley; D Howlett (capt), C Laulala, J Downey, S Zebo; I Keatley, C Murray; D Kilcoyne, M Sherry, BJ Botha; D OCallaghan, P OConnell; D Ryan, S Dougall, P OMahony. Replacements: D Varley, M Horan, S Archer, B Holland, P Butler, D Williams, JJ Hanrahan, F Jones.
EDINBURGH: G Tonks; L Jones, N De Luca, B Atiga, T Visser; G Hunter, R Rees; J Yapp, R Ford, G Cross; G Gilchrist, S Cox (capt); D Denton, S McInally, N Talei. Replacements: A Titterrell, R Hislop, WP Nel, R McAlpine, D Basilaia, C Leck, M Scott, T Brown.
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England).
Betting (Paddy Power): 1/14 Munster, 28/1 Draw, 13/2 Edinburgh. Handicap odds (Edinburgh +14pts) 10/11 Munster, 20/1 Draw, 10/11 Edinburgh.
Forecast: Munster to win.
