Munster to maintain winning ways

Connacht v Munster:THE STRENGTH in depth of the Munster squad is such that when a group of front-line players are rested it can be argued their replacements are actually genuine competitors for their jerseys.

Okay, Mick O'Driscoll is an international secondrow and able leader, but nobody can equal Paul O'Connell's impact (nor his ability to take an upper-cut) but the other changes made by coach Tony McGahan all seem like viable alternatives. This must create healthy, competition amongst the players.

In the backline, Barry Murphy has earned another start at outside centre in place of the injured Rua Tipoki, while Paul Warwick brings a different dimension to the outhalf role than Ronan O'Gara.

Peter Stringer, as ever, brings a snappier delivery to scrumhalf than Tomás O'Leary. However, the current Irish halfback pairing should be back in harness for Ulster's visit to Thomond Park on January 3rd.

In the pack, Donnacha Ryan is becoming increasingly difficult to exclude, be it in his natural locking position or blindside wing forward, and partners O'Driscoll here to accommodate the backrow of Alan Quinlan, Niall Ronan and David Wallace, who is finally being utilised at number eight where he can make a more damaging attacking impact.

Ronan's form allows McGahan to give Munster a natural tearaway number seven for the first time.

Munster are five points clear at the top of the Magners League. Connacht remain rooted to the bottom, 18 points adrift of a team they have not beaten since November, 1986.

The fruits of their development status remain depressingly clear in the Munster starting XV, where Warwick, Jerry Flannery and Tony Buckley should make an impact tomorrow evening. Yet, this is a winter derby so form gets parked at the Sportsground gates.

"There is no difference in the scale of difficulty when you play against any of the other Irish sides," said McGahan. "They're local derbies, simple as that, and that gives them that extra edge.

"Playing Connacht away is every bit as tough as playing Ulster in Ravenhill or Leinster in Dublin. And we only have to remember past games down at The Sportsground to realise what we'll be up against on Sunday. Last year for example, I think we were just barely ahead, a point or two, when we scored a late try that Rog converted but there was nothing in it right throughout.

"It was same the year before and there a few 3-0 wins as well. This season they've beaten Glasgow and Leinster here and come into the game on foot of a good Challenge Cup run so we're under no illusions about the scale of the task we face."

Connacht are boosted by the return of captain John Muldoon at flanker after a two-month lay-off. In total, there are five changes to the team that beat Italian side Rovigo 30-3 on December 12th.

Liam Bibo has recovered from a hamstring injury to start on the left wing, while Samoan Niva Ta'auso makes his first start at outside centre. Seán Cronin comes back at hooker, with Colm Rigney and Ray Ofisa in a decent backrow.

CONNACHT: G Duffy; T Nathan, N Ta'auso, K Matthews, L Bibo; I Keatley, F Murphy; B Wilkinson, S Cronin, R Morris; M McCarthy, A Farley; J Muldoon (capt), R Ofisa, C Rigney. Replacements: A Flavin, R Loughney, A Browne, M Swift, K Campbell, A Dunne, M Deane, F Carr.

MUNSTER: K Earls; D Howlett, B Murphy, L Mafi, I Dowling; P Warwick, P Stringer; F Pucciariello, J Flannery, T Buckley; M O'Driscoll (capt), D Ryan; A Quinlan, N Ronan, D Wallace. Replacements: F Sheahan, T Ryan, J Coughlan, N Williams, M Prendergast, J Manning, D Hurley.

Last meeting: Connacht 5 Munster 16, Sportsground, March 28th 2007.

Verdict: Munster win.