Match Preview: Ulster Rugby vs. Munster Rugby

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Match Preview: Ulster Rugby vs. Munster Rugby

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[tag=image]http://www.munsterrugby.ie/images/conte ... est-02.gif[/tag][tag=content]We’re in!

Part one of our play-off plight has been completed with our victory over Leinster guaranteeing our safe passage into the final four, and what a victory that was. Not only did we manage to come back from a ten-point deficit after just eight minutes we then proceeded to outplay our rivals and send them home with their tails between their legs. And I don’t want to hear any of that “They were tired” rubbish – you can only play what is in front of you, and we did so superbly.

Now part two begins, and sadly our affairs do not get any easier than they were before. Connacht put up a brave fight down in Galway, and Leinster were a handful, but Munster tomorrow will be a step above both of them and going away to Glasgow will probably be a step above that especially if they haven’t wrapped up a home semi-final yet either.

Still, that’s an issue to worry about in next week’s preview – for now we have Axel Foley and his Munstermen coming north.

We should have no fear though given our home record – let’s not hide away from the fact that we are the best side at home in the Pro12 this season having picked up ten victories from ten and racking up a tasty 44 points at the Kingspan Stadium, which accounts for a whopping 66% of our points tally this year. One more win and we complete an unbeaten domestic season at home, and had we managed to overturn Toulon at home in the Champions’ Cup then we’d be looking at the prospect of an unbeaten season overall.

Both sides are in great form though, with an identical record of seven wins from their last eight Pro12 games propelling both into the top three in the league and into the play-offs. Our only reversal was a disappointing defeat in Newport to the Dragons back in Round 18, while Munster’s defeat was at the Liberty Stadium – a 12-26 loss to the Ospreys their only blot on the form book since January.

Foley’s side will pose a stern test, especially with talismanic lock Paul O’Connell back in the starting line-up, and they boast the league’s best away record having recorded 30 points on their travels this season which includes an impressive victory at the Aviva Stadium over Leinster and will come to Belfast knowing that a win more or less wraps up a home semi-final for them given they welcome the Dragons to Irish Independent Park next week.

Munster will also be buoyed by the fact that they have only lost once to Irish opposition this season (away to Connacht) and that they were victorious back in November when we met at Thomond Park – Ian Humphreys’ late conversion miss handing a 21-20 victory to the home side. In fact, Munster are looking to complete their first double over us since the 2010/11 season, however their record in Belfast is not stellar with just two wins in their last seven trips.

This could be the game that determines who takes a top two spot. With the top four separated by just four points and Glasgow and the Ospreys also meeting tonight there is actually the possibility of either us or Munster taking top spot heading into the final weekend of games and holding the advantage when it comes to grabbing a home semi-final. And with a full squad to pick from, you’d be wise not to bet against us.

The league’s best home team vs. the best away team – who could ask for a better match-up?!

The teams
One change for Ulster as top try scorer Craig Gilroy is ruled out with a tight hamstring and is replaced by Peter Nelson on the wing. Ruan Pienaar and Darren Cave have shaken off respective knocks to start at scrum-half and inside centre.

Axel Foley has named three changes to his team to that which defeated Treviso two weeks ago. Denis Hurley is the sole change to the backs, coming in at inside centre ahead of Rory Scannell, while in the forwards Eusebio Guinazu is preferred to Duncan Casey at hooker, and Paul O’Connell returns at lock in place of Billy Holland.

Ulster Rugby vs. Munster Rugby
Saturday 9th May, 14:40
Kingspan Stadium
Guinness PRO12 – Round 21

Live on Sky Sports 1

ULSTER RUGBY
15. Louis Ludik, 14. Tommy Bowe, 13. Jared Payne, 12. Darren Cave, 11. Peter Nelson, 10. Paddy Jackson, 9. Ruan Pienaar; 1. Callum Black, 2. Rory Best (capt.), 3. Wiehahn Herbst, 4. Dan Tuohy, 5. Franco van der Merwe, 6. Iain Henderson, 7. Chris Henry, 8. Roger Wilson.

Replacements: 16. Rob Herring, 17. Andrew Warwick, 18. Bronson Ross, 19. Robbie Diack, 20. Clive Ross, 21. Paul Marshall, 22. Ian Humphreys, 23. Stuart McCloskey.

MUNSTER RUGBY
15. Felix Jones, 14. Keith Earls, 13. Andrew Smith, 12. Denis Hurley, 11. Simon Zebo, 10. Ian Keatley, 9. Conor Murray; 1. Dave Kilcoyne, 2. Eusebio Guinazu, 3. Stephen Archer, 4. Donnacha Ryan, 5. Paul O’Connell, 6. Peter O’Mahony (capt.), 7. Tommy O’Donnell, 8. CJ Stander.

Replacements: 16. Duncan Casey, 17. John Ryan, 18. BJ Botha, 19. Billy Holland, 20. Jack O’Donoghue, 21. Duncan Williams, 22. JJ Hanrahan, 23. Ronan O’Mahony.

Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU, 124th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Dudley Phillips, Nigel Correll (both IRFU)
Citing Commissioner: Murray Whyte (IRFU)
TMO: Kevin Beggs (IRFU)[/tag]
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