MUNSTER v AUSTRALIA: NO GAME did more to revive the pre-professional concept of midweek tour matches that are becoming de rigueur again than the memorable meeting of Munster and New Zealand at Thomond Park two years ago. If tonight's meeting with Australia is half as good we're in for an epic.
At the time, Munster looked like proverbial lambs to the slaughter, but, built around the remarkable efforts of a pack in which all eight had played AIL rugby that season, and varnished by some quality from the likes of Peter Stringer and Paul Warwick, an extraordinary sense of occasion and a packed Thomond Park left the tourists reliant on a late Joe Rokocoko try for an 18-16 victory.
It was about the only “non-competitive” match that season, in the sense that no Test caps or cup or league points were at stake. It was probably the game of the season.
As an aside, the match also came in the midst of a grim November for the Irish team and provided a pick-me-up for Irish rugby.
James Coughlan, one of the four heroic figures from that starting line-up along with Niall Ronan, Warwick and Doug Howlett, captains the side tonight as, once again, Munster’s backline will be more recognisable than a comparatively makeshift pack.
Nonetheless, Damien Varley packs down between a South African and a Kiwi in Wian du Preez and Peter Borlase, with Billy Holland – another hero off the bench as a replacement against the All Blacks – joined by Ian Nagle in the secondrow.
The promising Nagle was outstanding in Munster’s recent win away to Ulster, and is one of 10 who start from that 16-6 win.
Sam Tuitupou returns for his first game since suspension alongside Keith Earls, whose father, Ger, played in the 1992 win over Australia.
With Alan Quinlan’s hamstring strain ruling him out, the former CBC Schools Cup-winning captain and Irish schools, under-19 and under-20 backrower Brian Hayes, who played for Cork Con against Dolphin last Saturday, completes the replacements.
The Wallabies make five changes to the team which beat Leicester 26-15 at Welford Road last Tuesday.
Saia Faingaa replaces the injured Huia Edmonds at hooker, loosehead prop Ben Daley comes in for James Slipper, while lock Dean Mumm joins Queenslander Rob Simmons in the secondrow, replacing Van Humphries.
In the backs, Lachie Turner shifts from wing to fullback in favour of Peter Hynes, who reverts to the bench, while sevens Commonwealth Games silver medallist Luke Morahan earns his first tour start.
Australia feature all seven members of the Wallabies’ bench from their defeat to England on Saturday: captain and outhalf Berrick Barnes, number eight Richard Brown, scrumhalf Luke Burgess, centre Anthony Faingaa, Mumm, Slipper and Turner. Matt Giteau is again among the replacements.
“This is another great opportunity for these guys to get as close to Test rugby as you’ll get,” said coach Robbie Deans. “We’re playing against teams full of international players and this week will be tougher again. Munster have a history of taking international scalps; their combinations are more like international ones than provincial, and this is will be a great challenge for us.”
Munster have won three of their five meetings with the Wallabies, in 1967, 1981 and 1992. Australia won in 1947 and the sides drew in 1958, while this latest instalment is given added resonance by it being something of a re-union.
Aside from McGahan, a former Queensland schools player and Brisbane league player, and his assistant Laurie Fisher, a former Brumbies and Australia A coach, the former Australian Under-21s and sevens player Warwick will be facing a Wallabies team for the first time.
In the gold corner, of course, will be former Munster backrower and assistant coach Jim Williams.
Although it won’t be quite the sell-out of last week, there is the Munster X factor and they are liable to be inspired by the sense of occasion. And a reminder of Irish virtues would again be timely.
MUNSTER:J Murphy; D Howlett, K Earls, S Tuitupou, Denis Hurley; P Warwick, D Williams; W Du Preez, D Varley, P Borlase, B Holland, I Nagle, P O'Mahony, N Ronan, J Coughlan (capt). Replacements: M Sherry, S Archer, B Hayes, T O'Donnell, C Murray, S Deasy, B Murphy.
AUSTRALIA: L Turner (NSW Waratahs); R Davies (Queensland Reds), P McCabe (Brumbies), A Faingaa (Reds), L Morahan (Reds); B Barnes (Waratahs, capt), L Burgess (Waratahs); B Daley (Reds), S Faingaa (Reds), S Ma'afu (Brumbies), D Mumm (Waratahs), R Simmons (Reds), S Higginbotham (Reds), M Hodgson (Western Force), R Brown (Western Force). Replacements: T Polota-Nau (Waratahs), J Slipper (Reds), V Humphries (Reds), P McCutcheon (Waratahs), N Phipps (Melbourne Rebels), M Giteau (Brumbies), P Hynes (Reds).
Referee:Bryce Lawrence (NZ).
Forecast:Australia to win.
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