[tag=image]http://www.munsterrugby.ie/images/conte ... est-02.gif[/tag][tag=content]Who doesn’t love a good interprovincial derby?
The passion, the energy, the brutal collisions and, of course, the winding up on the opposition message boards (yes, I’m looking at you Jackie Brown) all combine to ensure that games between two Irish provinces never end up as just rugby matches. Blood, sweat and tears go into these games and no side likes to lose them – I mean, who in their right mind wouldn’t want to hold bragging rights over their southern cousins?
For those of you who have been to Thomond Park before, you will know of its intimidating qualities (well, when it’s full anyway). It is never an easy place to go and win and, even though we’ve had a bit of a good run in recent seasons compared to other teams, Neil Doak will be fully aware that anything but a perfect performance in Limerick may not be enough to steal an invaluable away win in a congested Pro12 race for the play-offs.
Indeed, we play Munster at a time where they are hitting a rich vein of form. A six game winning streak, including that impressive win at the Aviva over Leinster, sees them inherit third place behind us and the Ospreys and a win would set them up perfectly heading into back-to-back games against Clermont Auvergne in the Rugby Champions’ Cup. They have progressed incredibly well after early season defeats to Edinburgh and the Ospreys and Axel Foley now seems to be getting the most out of his squad.
So we need to be at the very top of our game. As was pointed out earlier in the week, apart from the Glasgow game we haven’t really found our form and unless we can put in possibly our best performance of the season then tomorrow night could be a long one for those of us making the journey down. A full strength Munster side will not be as wasteful as the Ospreys were last weekend and we cannot afford to give any ground to a rival.
These are the games that we show our mettle. If the real tests are the games where we’re minus our internationals, these games are where we prove that we can mix it with the big boys and that when it comes to April and May we will be right in the thick of it as far as competing goes. If we can pull off a remarkable win tomorrow without the likes of Dan Tuohy, Ruan Pienaar and Andrew Trimble then it will send out a real message to the rest of the league as well.
And for the first time since the Glasgow game, we have an unrestricted panel to select from. Injuries will play their part of course, as will their injury list, but for once this week we can have no real excuses. This is a chance for us to really lay down a marker and go into December top of the Pro12 with a real morale boosting win that will take us into the back-to-backs with the Scarlets riding the crest of a wave. And ten points there could keep our European dreams alive.
Five changes for Axel Foley, who is able to call upon Irish trio Dave Kilcoyne, Tommy O’Donnell and Felix Jones. Gerhard van den Heever is back from injury to start at wing in place of the injured Andrew Conway, while there is a first start for injury joker Pat Howard at outside centre. Duncan Williams is also included at scrum-half ahead of Cathal Sheridan. In the front row, BJ Botha is chosen over Stephen Archer while CJ Stander is elevated to the back row in place of Sean Dougall who drops to the bench.
Neil Doak makes four changes to the team that beat the Ospreys including the return of Rory Best. Ian Humphreys replaces the injured Paddy Jackson as the only change in the backs, while Best’s inclusion at hooker also marks his return to the captaincy, and he is the only change in the front row. Alan O’Connor is recalled to the second row in place of Lewis Stevenson, while Nick Williams is also a returnee to the back row with Clive Ross making way. Robbie Diack also returns to the replacements.
With just three points separating us in the table, this game could cement our place at the top of the league or suck us back into the play-off battle. With tough games away to the Ospreys and Leinster during the festive periods, a win here will put us in a prime position to have a strong December and January. This game could act as a springboard not only for our domestic campaign, but our European one too.
Then again, maybe I’m over-exaggerating like always…
Munster Rugby vs. Ulster Rugby
Friday 28th November, 19:35
Thomond Park
Guinness Pro12 – Round 9
Live on BBC2 NI and TG4
MUNSTER RUGBY
15. JJ Hanrahan, 14. Gerhard van den Heever, 13. Pat Howard, 12. Denis Hurley, 11. Ronan O’Mahony, 10. Ian Keatley, 9. Duncan Williams; 1. John Ryan, 2. Duncan Casey, 3. BJ Botha, 4. Donncha O’Callaghan (capt.), 5. Billy Holland, 6. Robin Copeland, 7. Paddy Butler, 8. CJ Stander.
16. Kevin O’Byrne, 17. Dave Kilcoyne, 18. Stephen Archer, 19. Tommy O’Donnell, 20. Sean Dougall, 21. Neil Cronin, 22. Andrew Smith, 23. Felix Jones.
ULSTER RUGBY
15. Stuart Olding, 14. Louis Ludik, 13. Darren Cave, 12. Stuart McCloskey, 11. Craig Gilroy, 10. Ian Humphreys, 9. Paul Marshall; 1. Callum Black, 2. Rory Best (capt.), 3. Wiehahn Herbst, 4. Alan O’Connor, 5. Franco van der Merwe, 6. Roger Wilson, 7. Sean Reidy, 8. Nick Williams.
16. Rob Herring, 17. Andrew Warwick, 18. Declan Fitzpatrick, 19. Lewis Stevenson, 20. Robbie Diack, 21. Michael Heaney, 22. Michael Allen, 23. Peter Nelson.
Referee: Ian Davies (WRU, 21st competition game)
Assistant Referees: Gary Conway, Paul Haycock (both IRFU)
Citing Commissioner: Eddie Walsh (IRFU)
TMO: Kevin Beggs (IRFU)[/tag]
Match Preview: Munster Rugby vs. Ulster Rugby
Moderator: Moderators
