Munster Director of Rugby, Rassie Erasmus says that the unique nature of the game should make for an exciting spectacle.
“Every week in Ireland I experience something different. You go to Kingspan and Ulster and play there, that was new, and then two weeks ago seeing a full Thomond Park and this week seeing a full stadium and winning proper, every week something new, now facing the Maoris at home.
“The players also see it like that. It is going to be a hell of a challenge. We have seen what they did to the USA. I just know from history, coaching a lot against those kind of boys, they are just wonderful attacking players with great physicality and wonderful skills to watch” added the South African native.
Ahead of the game this week, Munster have signed two new players on loan deals. Ulster’s scrum half, Angus Lloyd and Bay of Plenty halfback Te Aihe Toma have signed on with the province as injury cover.
Dublin-native Lloyd has made one PRO12 appearance for the northern province with the 24-year-old featuring for Munster A at Naas RFC last April, while 23-year-old Toma made 34 appearances for the Bay of Plenty and lined out for the Highlanders on three occasions during the 2016 Super Rugby season.
Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus makes four changes to tomorrow night’s historic encounter with the Maori All Blacks at Thomond Park with Tommy O’Donnell to captain Munster for the first time.
Three players are in line to make their Munster debuts. Short-term signing Te Aihe Toma is included on the bench as are the academy’s Sean O’Connor and John Foley. O’Connor was part of the Ireland side that defeated New Zealand at this year’s World Rugby U20 Championship.
Conor Oliver, Brian Scott and Dan Goggin are also included in the matchday squad completing a strong academy representation of five players.
Three changes are seen in the pack. James Cronin comes back into the front row with John Madigan making his first start of the season in forming a new second row partnership alongside Darren O’Shea. Oliver returns with captain O’Donnell and Robin Copeland making positional switches to form a new look back row. O’Donnell starts at blindside for the first time since February 2014.
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The last change comes at half back where Ian Keatley comes in to partner Duncan Williams.
It’s as you were across the midfield and back three. Returning from Ireland camp and again named again on the right wing, Darren Sweetnam is the only player to start everygame this season and makes his tenth consecutive start.
23 clubs and schools from across the province will be represented on the pitch tomorrow night having won the #MunsterRising Socks competition, in association with Life Style Sports. Along with seeing their colours on the big stage, winning entrants have the opportunity to lay their club or school socks out for their assigned player in the Munster dressing room before kick-off.
Munster XV: Andrew Conway; Darren Sweetnam, Jaco Taute, Rory Scannell, Ronan O’Mahony; Ian Keatley, Duncan Williams; James Cronin, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; John Madigan, Darren O’Shea; Tommy O’Donnell – capt., Conor Oliver, Robin Copeland.
Replacements: Rhys Marshall, Peter McCabe, Brian Scott, Sean O’Connor, John Foley, Te Aihe Toma, Dan Goggin, Alex Wootton.
MUNSTER RUGBY will face the Maori All Blacks at a sold out Thomond Park this Friday night. The unique clash, which is to be broadcast on EirSport, will see Munster take on the Maori All Blacks who last week defeated the USA by 54-7.
