Glasgow Warriors travel to Cork with a 16-point lead at the top of Conference A of the GUINNESS PRO14, so if Munster are to have any chance of reeling in the Scottish side they must win tonight in Simon Zebo’s final game on Leeside.
GUINNESS PRO14: Friday, February 23
MUNSTER (2nd, Con A) v GLASGOW WARRIORS (1st, Con A), Irish Independent Park, 7pm (live Sky Sports Action)
Team News: The Munster team to face Conference A leaders Glasgow Warriors at Irish Independent Park in the GUINNESS PRO14 tonight has been named.
Billy Holland captains the side in his 180th appearance for the province, as head coach Johann van Graan makes 12 changes to the team beaten 25-18 by Cardiff Blues in Welsh capital last week.
Simon Zebo starts at full-back and Andrew Conway returns from Ireland camp to start on the right wing, with Alex Wootton, Munster’s top try scorer so far this season, on the opposite flank. Sam Arnold and Dan Goggin are the starting centres with Tyler Bleyendaal – set for his first start since October – and James Hart pairing up at half-back.
A new front row sees hooker Niall Scannell return from international duty with James Cronin and Stephen Archer the two props. Jean Kleyn partners Holland in the second row, while flanker Dave O’Callaghan makes his first start since returning from a long-term knee injury, and Chris Cloete and number 8 Robin Copeland keep their places in the back row.
Rhys Marshall, Dave Kilcoyne and Brian Scott provide the front row cover as Gerbrandt Grobler and Jack O’Donoghue complete the forward replacements, while Duncan Williams, Ian Keatley and Greencore Munster Rugby Academy winger Calvin Nash are the reserve backs.
Munster v Glasgow Warriors tickets are available online here, from the Munster Rugby Ticket Offices at Thomond Park and Irish Independent Park, or by calling 061 421103. Tickets are priced from just €;7 (student & junior) with family packs (two adults and two children) available for just €;40.
Meanwhile, Rob Harley will become Glasgow Warriors’ most-capped player tonight, playing his 178th game for the club as he eclipses Graeme Morrison’s record. The 27-year-old flanker made his debut against Leinster at Firhill in 2010 and has been a first team regular for the Warriors ever since.
Harley captains Glasgow for his milestone match, and contrastingly, Oli Kebble makes his first start for the club. He is joined by James Malcolm and Siua Halanukonuka in the front row. Matt Smith and Matt Fagerson feature alongside Rob Harley in the back row, and in front of them, Scott Cummings and Kiran McDonald complete the pack.
Sam Johnson shifts to outside centre after an impressive return from injury against the Toyota Cheetahs last weekend, with Brandon Thomson coming in at inside centre. Ratu Tagive returns to the starting XV with Lee Jones on the other wing and Ruaridh Jackson at full-back. George Horne and Adam Hastings continue their half-back pairing.
On the bench Zander Fagerson returns from a foot injury to be involved in a Warriors squad for the first time in 2018. Richie Vernon is named in a Glasgow squad for the first time this season, the experienced centre/back rower suffered an Achilles injury last season and has played for Currie Chieftains in the BT Premiership recently on his return to fitness.
MUNSTER: Simon Zebo; Andrew Conway, Sam Arnold, Dan Goggin, Alex Wootton; Tyler Bleyendaal, James Hart; James Cronin, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer, Jean Kleyn, Billy Holland (capt), Dave O’Callaghan, Chris Cloete, Robin Copeland.
Replacements: Rhys Marshall, Dave Kilcoyne, Brian Scott, Gerbrandt Grobler, Jack O’Donoghue, Duncan Williams, Ian Keatley, Calvin Nash.
GLASGOW WARRIORS: Ruaridh Jackson; Lee Jones, Sam Johnson, Brandon Thomson, Ratu Tagive; Adam Hastings, George Horne; Oli Kebble, James Malcolm, Siua Halanukonuka, Kiran McDonald, Scott Cummings, Rob Harley (capt), Matt Smith, Matt Fagerson.
Replacements: Grant Stewart, Alex Allan, Zander Fagerson, Lewis Wynne, Chris Fusaro, Henry Pyrgos, Richie Vernon, Niko Matawalu.
Referee: Marius Mitrea (Italy)
Assistant Referees: Andrea Piardi, Manuel Bottino (both Italy)
Television Match Official: Matteo Liperini (Italy)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Munster to win: 1/6; Draw: 22/1; Glasgow Warriors to win: 4/1
Pre-Match Quotes: Simon Zebo (Munster) – “I am just enjoying every moment that I can in a Munster jersey. Even after a bad loss like last weekend (against Cardiff), it does mean so much to me personally and to everybody in the squad to wear the jersey. If we perform like that, it can be quite frustrating.
“Glasgow are in form even though they have so many players missing with Scotland. It just shows the strength and depth that they have as a squad and where they are going as a team. Our first 20 minutes are going to be massive. We have to lay down a marker. Playing at home again, we need to use that to our advantage.
“There has been a bit of needle (between ourselves and Glasgow), definitely a bit of rivalry. They have always been really physical. We have gotten the better of them on most of those occasions so they are going to want to come here and get one back on us.
“We have enjoyed the encounters with Glasgow. To go out and get another one would be great and it’s essential this weekend on the back of a poor performance.”
Dave Rennie (Glasgow Warriors) – “What Rob (Harley) has achieved is phenomenal. My time with him has obviously been short but he’s an impressive character with a massive work ethic. He’s hugely respected within the group and it’ll be a lovely occasion for him leading the team out on Friday.
“It’s great having Zander back, he’ll come in via the bench and Richie Vernon is such a versatile player to bring on and has really impressed me with his competitiveness and physicality.
“Munster clearly have aspirations to top the pool and to do that they’ll likely need to beat us this weekend. We’re well aware of their strengths, they’re direct and tough and have an excellent kick-chase, so we’re going to have to be disciplined and not give them opportunities to choke us.
“We’re delighted for all our Scotland internationals this weekend, especially Nick Grigg and Tim Swinson. Nick has earned his call-up and Tim has fought hard to get back from injury and both were outstanding for us last Friday against the Cheetahs.”
Top Scorers – 2017/18 GUINNESS PRO14: Munster – Points: Ian Keatley 85; Tries: Alex Wootton 7; Glasgow Warriors – Points: Finn Russell 69; Tries: George Horne 8
2017/18 TEAM FORM: Munster – Played 15, Won 9, Lost 6, 49 Points; W 34-3 v Benetton Rugby (home), W 51-18 v Toyota Cheetahs (home), W 21-16 v Ospreys (away), L 37-10 v Glasgow Warriors (away), W 39-16 v Cardiff Blues (home), L 23-17 v Leinster (away), L 20-16 v Connacht (away), W 49-6 v Dragons (home), W 36-19 v Zebre (away), W 36-10 v Ospreys (home), L 34-24 v Leinster (home), L 24-17 v Ulster (away), W 39-13 v Connacht (home), W 33-5 v Zebre (home), L 25-18 v Cardiff Blues (away); Glasgow Warriors – Played 15, Won 13, Drawn 1, Lost 1, 65 Points; W 18-12 v Connacht (away), W 31-10 v Ospreys (home), W 20-19 v Cardiff Blues (away), W 37-10 v Munster (home), W 37-21 v Benetton Rugby (home), W 29-26 v Toyota Cheetahs (away), W 43-13 v Southern Kings (home), W 31-21 v Leinster (home), W 47-6 v Ospreys (away), W 40-16 v Cardiff Blues (home), L 18-17 v Edinburgh (away), W 17-0 v Edinburgh (home), W 40-20 v Zebre (away), D 15-15 v Dragons (away), W 37-23 v Toyota Cheetahs (home)
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Saturday, May 30, 2015 – Final – Munster 13 Glasgow Warriors 31, Kingspan Stadium
Friday, October 2, 2015 – Munster 23 Glasgow Warriors 21, Thomond Park
Friday, February 19, 2016 – Glasgow Warriors 27 Munster 24, Rugby Park
Friday, December 2, 2016 – Glasgow Warriors 15 Munster 16, Scotstoun Stadium
Saturday, April 8, 2017 – Munster 10 Glasgow Warriors 7, Irish Independent Park
Friday, September 22, 2017 – Glasgow Warriors 37 Munster 10, Scotstoun Stadium
MATCH FACTS:
– Munster’s only two victories in the last five rounds of the GUINNESS PRO14 both came in their last two home games at Thomond Park, against Connacht and Zebre
– The Munstermen have won their last six matches in Cork since their one-point reversal there to Cardiff Blues in September 2016
– Glasgow Warriors’ only defeat in the PRO14 this season was by the narrowest of margins to Edinburgh at BT Murrayfield on December 23
– The Warriors have been victorious just once on visits to Irish provinces since the opening round last season, 18-12 at Connacht in round 1 this season
– Glasgow beat Munster 37-10 at Scotstoun Stadium in round 4 but have not achieved a PRO14 regular season double over the men in red since 2005/06
– The Scots have not beaten Munster on Irish soil since a 22-5 win at Thomond Park in April 2014, while their only previous victory in Cork was 21-18 in May 2008
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