Munster resume their quest to qualify for the GUINNESS PRO12 play-offs with a home date with Cardiff Blues, as they look to make a winning start at the newly-redeveloped Irish Independent Park in Cork.
GUINNESS PRO12: Saturday, February 14
MUNSTER (4th) v CARDIFF BLUES (9th), Irish Independent Park, 7.35pm (live TG4)
Team News: Head coach Anthony Foley has named a strong Munstr team to face Cardiff Blues in Cork tonight, including Denis Hurley as captain and the Ireland duo of Ian Keatley and Keith Earls.
Round 14 of the GUINNESS PRO12 sees Munster play their first game at the newly-redeveloped Irish Independent Park.
Currently in his ninth season with Munster, Hurley signed a one-year contract extension last month that will see him remain with the province until June 2016. The Cork man (pictured below) captains the side for the first time on his 145th appearance.
Academy player Jack O’Donoghue will make his first senior start for the province. John Ryan and BJ Botha start on either side of Eusebio Guinazu in the front row. Botha is set to make his 90th appearance in the red of Munster, while the versatile Guinazu makes his first start as hooker.
The experienced local duo of Donncha O’Callaghan and Billy Holland make up the second row with blindside Sean Dougall and openside Dave O’Callaghan joining O’Donoghue in the back row.
Having already made two PRO12 appearances this season – against Zebre and the Ospreys – young number 8 O’Donoghue penned a three-year deal last month which will see him advance to development status for the 2015/16 season and full contract status from 2016/17.
Following his involvement in last weekend’s Six Nations victory over Italy, Ian Keatley has been made available to the province this weekend and will partner Duncan Williams at half-back.
Keith Earls is another international representative available for selection and the Limerick native will join skipper Hurley in the midfield. JJ Hanrahan starts at full-back for the third time this season with Ronan O’Mahony and Andrew Conway on the left and right wing respectively.
After successfully rehabbing a knee injury sustained against Clermont Auvergne at Thomond Park in December, Dave Kilcoyne is named among the replacements, as are Academy centre Rory Scannell and Garryowen scrum half Neil Cronin, both of whom are in contention to make their second senior appearances for Munster this weekend.
Tickets, priced from €;15, can be purchased online by clicking here, at the Munster Rugby Ticket Offices at Irish Independent Park and Thomond Park, or by calling 0818 719 300.
The Ireland v France Six Nations match will be televised on the big screen before kick-off so you will not miss a second of the action – both international and provincial!
Meanwhile, Rhys Patchell will return to PRO12 action for the first time since the start of November – when he also faced Munster – as Cardiff Blues look to claim a crucial victory in Cork and climb the league table.
Director of rugby Mark Hammett makes a total of eight changes to the team that started the last league game against Leinster in mid-January.
Winger Richard Smith is called into the starting line-up while Patchell joins Lloyd Williams in a new-look half-back pairing. Cory Allen is back in midfield alongside Gavin Evans after being released by Wales.
Hooker Matthew Rees captains the team from the front row where he packs down alongside the called-up Sam Hobbs and Adam Jones. A new second row pairing will see Filo Paulo and Macauley Cook, who this week agreed a new long-term deal at the region, combine.
Number 8 Manoa Vosawai is also back in the starting line-up, with Josh Navidi moving to the number 7 jersey as the Italian international returns. Josh Turnbull is named at blindside flanker and will make his 100th appearance in the PRO12.
MUNSTER: JJ Hanrahan; Andrew Conway, Keith Earls, Denis Hurley (capt), Ronan O’Mahony; Ian Keatley, Duncan Williams; John Ryan, Eusebio Guinazu, BJ Botha, Donncha O’Callaghan, Billy Holland, Sean Dougall, Dave O’Callaghan, Jack O’Donoghue.
Replacements: Niall Scannell, Dave Kilcoyne, Stephen Archer, Shane Buckley, Paddy Butler, Neil Cronin, Rory Scannell, Ivan Dineen.
CARDIFF BLUES: Joaquin Tuculet; Richard Smith, Cory Allen, Gavin Evans, Lucas Amorosino; Rhys Patchell, Lloyd Williams; Sam Hobbs, Matthew Rees (capt), Adam Jones, Macauley Cook, Filo Paulo, Josh Turnbull, Josh Navidi, Manoa Vosawai.
Replacements: Kristian Dacey, Thomas Davies, Taufa’ao Filise, Miles Normandale, Ellis Jenkins, Tavis Knoyle, Gareth Davies, Tom Isaacs.
Referee: Lloyd Linton (Scotland)
Assistant Referees: Andrew McMenemy, Duncan McClement (both Scotland)
Television Match Official: David Changleng (Scotland)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Munster to win: 1/6; Draw: 25/1; Cardiff Blues to win: 7/2
Pre-Match Quotes: Brian Walsh (Munster) – “This is a block of games (against Cardiff, the Scarlets, Glasgow and the Ospreys) where you are down your internationals, and it’s a real opportunity for the other fellas in the squad to come and do well over the period. As a squad, and a team and a province, we want to come out of this block top of the league if we can.
“It’s the same for the other teams, so it’s a real opportunity for some of the younger players to come in, and some of the less experienced players that would play regular to take on leadership roles.
“We want to give them the freedom to play over the four games, and not restrict them entirely, but obviously the results are the most important part of it.
“The stadium looks really well and hopefully there will be a great atmosphere here, it lends itself to that. We had a run-out on the pitch during the week and it’s in great condition – if the weather holds up it should be a cracking night for a game.”
Mark Hammett (Cardiff Blues) – “We’re looking forward to returning to the GUINNESS PRO12 as we start a big month of fixtures as we look to move up the table.
“We’ve played really well at times this season without always getting the results. We now need to start getting some victories on the board.
“We welcome back a number of players who have been able to have a break for rest and recovery during the cup window and we look forward to seeing the benefit of that spell when we play in Ireland.”
Top Scorers – 2014/15 GUINNESS PRO12: Munster – Points: Ian Keatley 103; Tries: CJ Stander, Simon Zebo 5 each; Cardiff Blues – Points: Rhys Patchell 78; Tries: Lloyd Williams, Kristian Dacey 3 each
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Friday, February 24, 2012 – Munster 16 Cardiff Blues 13, Thomond Park
Friday, November 2, 2012 – Cardiff Blues 18 Munster 24, Cardiff Arms Park
Saturday, January 5, 2013 – Munster 6 Cardiff Blues 17, Musgrave Park
Saturday, November 23, 2013 – Cardiff Blues 10 Munster 31, Cardiff Arms Park
Saturday, February 8, 2014 – Munster 54 Cardiff Blues 13, Thomond Park
Saturday, November 1, 2014 – Cardiff Blues 24 Munster 28, BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park
MATCH FACTS:
– Munster’s last eight fixtures in all competitions have resulted in only three victories, however at home the Munstermen have lost just once in the GUINNESS PRO12 since round 1: 19-14 to the Ospreys on September 27
– Munster have won their last six matches at Irish Independent Park in Cork since Cardiff Blues themselves won there on January 5, 2013
– Cardiff Blues’ last three matches in the PRO12 have all strangely been won by the away side on the day with the Welshmen winning their most recent away trip in the competition, 11-9, against the Dragons at Rodney Parade
– The Blues are winless against Irish provinces this season, slipping to four defeats and a draw in their encounters so far
– Cardiff Blues’ only victory in their last nine encounters with Munster was 17-6 in Cork in January 2013. The Welsh capital side’s record in Cork is an impressive won three and lost two
This website uses cookies.
Read More