Munster could top the GUINNESS PRO12 table with a win on ‘Super Saturday’ as they entertain last year’s champions Connacht, who are gearing up for the upcoming Champions Cup qualification play-offs.
GUINNESS PRO12: Saturday, May 6
MUNSTER (2nd) v CONNACHT (8th), Thomond Park, 5.15pm (live TG4)
Team News: Munster director of rugby Rassie Erasmus has made eight changes to the team that defeated Benetton Treviso for their GUINNESS PRO12 round 22 encounter with Connacht in Limerick.
With James Cronin, Rhys Marshall and Stephen Archer remaining in the front row, Billy Holland returns to captain the province and partners Darren O’Shea in the second row.
The only other change in the forwards sees Jean Deysel overcome a rib injury to start at blindside flanker. Named yesterday as the Greencore Munster Rugby Academy Player of the Year, Conor Oliver joins Jack O’Donoghue in completing the pack.
Angus Lloyd and Ian Keatley come in at half-back with Keatley set to make his 150th appearance for Munster, doing so against his former side for whom he won 57 caps.
In midfield, Academy centre Dan Goggin returns to the starting line-up alongside Jaco Taute who just today was announced as one of six Munster players in the 2016/17 GUINNESS PRO12 Dream Team. The final changes see speedsters Keith Earls, Alex Wootton and Andrew Conway form a new back-three.
Selecting a very strong bench that has no less than six Ireland internationals, Rassie Erasmus includes Conor Murray in a matchday 23 for the first time since the scrum half sustained a shoulder injury in Ireland’s Six Nations defeat to Wales in Cardiff back in March.
On the injury front, following a scan this week, versatile forward Dave O’Callaghan will meet with a specialist for the knee injury he sustained during last weekend’s round 21 win over Treviso.
Munster v Connacht tickets can be purchased via Ticketmaster.ie, from the Munster Rugby Ticket Offices at Thomond Park and Irish Independent Park, or by calling 061 421103.
Meanwhile, for their final game of the regular season, Connacht head coach head coach Pat Lam has made eleven changes to the team to face provincial rivals Munster.
Tiernan O’Halloran, who was today named on the PRO12 Dream Team for 2016/17, Tom Farrell, Cian Kelleher and Andrew Browne are the only players retained in the starting XV following the defeat to the Scarlets six days ago.
Jack Carty and Kieran Marmion make up the half-back pairing for the trip to Limerick, while Craig Ronaldson, the province’s try scorer last Saturday, is selected in midfield with Farrell. Prop Conor Carey makes his return from long-term injury in a new front row with Denis Buckley and hooker Shane Delahunt.
In the back row, John Muldoon returns to captain the side and is joined by flankers Eoin McKeon and James Connolly. Replacement prop JP Cooney will make his 50th appearance for the province if called upon from the bench.
Commenting on the interprovincial derby with semi-final-bound Munster, Pat Lam said: “With this being our final game before the European play-off, there is no question that we need an improved performance in Limerick on Saturday. With quite a few changes from last weekend, it’s an opportunity for those guys selected to drive that improvement.
“Winning only once in 29 years at Thomond Park emphasises the challenge we face this weekend. With the way Munster are playing as a team this season, there is no doubt that challenge has got even tougher. At the end of the day it’s a derby game with a lot on the line for both teams, and we’re really looking forward to it.”
MUNSTER: Andrew Conway; Alex Wootton, Jaco Taute, Dan Goggin, Keith Earls; Ian Keatley, Angus Lloyd; James Cronin, Rhys Marshall, Stephen Archer, Darren O’Shea, Billy Holland (capt), Jean Deysel, Conor Oliver, Jack O’Donoghue.
Replacements: Niall Scannell, Dave Kilcoyne, John Ryan, Peter O’Mahony, Tommy O’Donnell, Conor Murray, Tyler Bleyendaal, Francis Saili.
CONNACHT: Tiernan O’Halloran; Danie Poolman, Tom Farrell, Craig Ronaldson, Cian Kelleher; Jack Carty, Kieran Marmion; Denis Buckley, Shane Delahunt, Conor Carey, Quinn Roux, Andrew Browne, Eoin McKeon, James Connolly, John Muldoon (capt).
Replacements: Dave Heffernan, JP Cooney, Finlay Bealham, Sean O’Brien, Naulia Dawai, John Cooney, Marnitz Boshoff, Darragh Leader.
Referee: David Wilkinson (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Stuart Gaffikin, Mark Patton (both Ireland)
Television Match Official: Simon McDowell (Ireland)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Munster to win: 1/6; Draw: 25/1; Connacht to win: 7/2
Pre-Match Quotes: Alex Wootton (Munster) – “Getting regular game-time for Garryowen in the All-Ireland League was great for my development, as is training everyday with this bunch of lads. You learn a lot from the older guys, take the best from everyone, and hopefully make myself better.
“The coaches tell us, ‘if it’s on, have a go’. Firstly we navigate our way around the field with the systems we have, and then if it’s good to go we have a crack.
“I’ve spent a lot of this season sidelined due to injury, so on a personal level it would be good to finish out the season on a high, knowing that I’m fit and ready to kick on for next season. From a team perspective, to finish the regular season on a high would put us in a good place heading into the PRO12 semi-finals.”
Tiernan O’Halloran (Connacht) – “To get to recognised as the Connacht Players’ Player of the Year by my peers was pretty special last weekend. I’m massively honoured and proud to win that award.
“The season isn’t over yet and it’s just an awards ceremony but it was still a really nice moment for myself and my family. I still have a number of goals I want to hit this season but it’s great and I’m proud of it.
“We are almost guaranteed eighth place now in the PRO12 table, while Munster are guaranteed their home semi-final place. A lot of people see it as a nothing game for both teams but at the end of the day, it’s a derby game and there is always a bite to them no matter where you are in the table.
“As well as that, there are a lot of people that need to stand up and put things right after last week’s loss to the Scarlets. We want to have momentum going into the (Champions Cup) play-off game so in that sense, we feel there is a lot to play for. It’s always a big occasion when you play in Thomond Park in front of a big Munster crowd, and it’s a high-stakes game for a lot of us.”
Top Scorers – 2016/17 GUINNESS PRO12: Munster – Points: Tyler Bleyendaal 126; Tries: Ronan O’Mahony 9; Connacht – Points: Jack Carty 70; Tries: Niyi Adeolokun 6
2016/17 TEAM FORM: Munster – Played 21, Won 18, Lost 3, 81 Points; W 23-13 v Scarlets (away), L 24-23 v Cardiff Blues (home), W 20-16 v Newport Gwent Dragons (away), W 28-14 v Edinburgh (home), W 49-5 v Zebre (home), Played , L 25-14 v Leinster (away), W 15-14 v Ulster (away), W 33-0 v Ospreys (home), W 46-3 v Benetton Treviso (home), W 16-15 v Glasgow Warriors (away), W 29-17 v Leinster (home), W 16-9 v Connacht (away), W 10-9 v Edinburgh (away), W 45-17 v Newport Gwent Dragons (home), W 25-23 v Ospreys (away), L 30-21 v Scarlets (home), W 23-13 v Cardiff Blues (away), W 50-14 v Zebre (away), W 10-7 v Glasgow Warriors (home), W 22-20 v Ulster (home), W 34-14 v Benetton Treviso (away); Connacht – Played 21, Won 9, Lost 12, 44 Points; L 41-5 v Glasgow Warriors (home), L 32-11 v Ospreys (home), L 17-8 v Scarlets (away), W 28-15 v Edinburgh (home), W 30-25 v Ulster (home), L 24-13 v Leinster (away), L 21-16 v Newport Gwent Dragons (away), W 18-7 v Cardiff Blues (home), W 47-8 v Benetton Treviso (home), L 23-7 v Ulster (away), L 16-9 v Munster (home), L 29-7 v Ospreys (away), W 19-13 v Cardiff Blues (away), W 14-9 v Newport Gwent Dragons (home), W 34-19 v Benetton Treviso (away), W 33-3 v Zebre (home), L 35-24 v Glasgow Warriors (away), L 25-22 v Zebre (away), W 22-19 v Edinburgh (away), L 37-24 v Leinster (home), L 30-8 v Scarlets (home)
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Saturday, April 19, 2014 – Connacht 23 Munster 32, the Sportsground
Thursday, January 1, 2015 – Connacht 24 Munster 16, the Sportsground
Saturday, March 28, 2015 – Munster 42 Connacht 20, Thomond Park
Saturday, November 28, 2015 – Munster 12 Connacht 18, Thomond Park
Saturday, April 16, 2016 – Connacht 35 Munster 14, the Sportsground
Saturday, December 31, 2016 – Connacht 9 Munster 16, the Sportsground
MATCH FACTS:
– Munster have secured a home semi-final for only the second time in the last seven seasons, but if they are to overhaul Leinster to become top seeds, they will need a win in this game and hope that their rivals trip up
– The Munstermen have won their last five GUINNESS PRO12 matches, while their only defeat since round 6 was at home to the Scarlets on February 24
– Connacht have made the Champions Cup qualification play-offs but their only win in the last five rounds of the PRO12 was at Edinburgh on April 7
– Connacht have become just the third reigning PRO12 champions to fail to make the semi-finals in the year of their defence, the others being the Ospreys in 2012 and Leinster in 2014
– Connacht have won three of their last five fixtures with Munster, but did slip up 16-9 in Galway in round 12
– Last season Connacht won at Thomond Park for the first time since 1986
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