Schools Rugby: CBC to set the pace in Munster

The most eye-catching and intriguing quarter-final is the clash of Crescent, who will begin their bid to become the first side to win three Munster Senior Cups in a row against Christians, the last side to achieve the feat in 1999.

A Cork side hasn’t reached the final since 2011 but Christians are short odds to reset that record and a victory against Crescent, who won the last two finals comprehensively, would make them hard to bet against.

Crescent denied Rockwell College three consecutive titles in 2013 but injuries and poor form have placed them outside the favourites.

Christians' backs coach Conor Quaid, however, is refusing to rule them or PBC out.

“They will be strong having won the cup for the last two years,” he said. “Pres will also be strong but our focus is absolutely on Crescent at the minute.”

“The usual suspects will all be there again. It’s very difficult to judge from the games leading up to this, who’s doing what or who’s playing where. We know how dangerous Crescent can be so our focus is absolutely on that match.”

Quaid is aware that after watching a fancied Christians side exit the competition at the quarter-final stage last year after losing 22-20 to Ardscoil Rís, there is little point looking too far ahead.

“You have to be confident going into any kind of a cup,” the former Christians outhalf said. “At the same time we’re under no illusions that any team can beat any other side on any given day. At the minute we just need to keep focused on one match at a time.”

Rockwell College forwards coach Denis Leamy, meanwhile, believes Quaid's side are the team to beat and pointed to their size to back up the claim. "I think Christians will be very strong," the two-time Heineken Cup winner said. "They've recruited well and have a very good coaching ticket there with Conor Quaid and Neil Lucey. I don't think you can look past them. They're physically huge and they've a strong tradition in the competition."

Rockwell will have to negotiate a tricky tie in Cork against Pres but, with a number of their players having been involved last September in Munster’s interprovincial success, they can be confident.

The side includes outhalf Bill Johnstone, who kicked 14 points in the 19-10 defeat of Leinster that clinched the series and they will be eager to make up for last year’s disappointing loss to St Munchin’s in the last eight.

“The time leading into it is crucial in our preparation,” Leamy said.

“We’re hoping that by the time we face a very tough challenge against Pres in Cork in the Mardyke we’ll be ready.”

The other standout fixture is a Limerick derby that gives St Munchin’s the chance to avenge last year’s semi-final defeat to Ardscoil Rís when they let a 7-0 half-time lead slip to lose 11-7.

A large number of the St Munchin’s squad is in fifth year so it would be a surprise it they managed to turn over their more experienced rivals.

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