MUNSTER face four tough games in four weeks as the Red Army look to continue their fine form, both in the RaboDirect Pro 12 and the Heineken Cup. This coming Saturday Munster take on Edinburgh at Thomond Park knowing that the efforts of the last two weeks in Europe must be repeated, even if the names on the team sheet will have changed.
Munster’s last minute hero Ronan O’Gara was named in Munster’s squad for this weekend, but the drop goal king is not expected to play a full 80 minutes. JJ Hanrahan, Dave Foley, Ian Nagle, Billy Holland, Simon Zebo, Stephen Archer, Mick O’Driscoll, Tommy O’Donnell, Paudie Butler, Scott Deasy and Duncan Williams have all been added to the 23 man squad that faced Castres last weekend.
Munster have won three of their last four games in all competitions, whilst their only home defeat this season was to Ospreys at Thomond Park in the RaboDirect PRO12 on 8 October. The Munstermen have won their last six home games against Scottish opponents since Glasgow won 21-18 in Cork in May 2008.
Edinburgh Rugby have won three successive matches in all competitions, their best run since the opening of the 2009/10 season. The Scotsmen’s only victory in their last eleven visits to Ireland since 2008 was 16-13 over Ulster at Ravenhill in 2009.
The two sides have already met in round five of the RaboDirect PRO12 with Edinburgh winning 29-14 at Murrayfield. Edinburgh have not achieved a season’s double over Munster since season 2003/04. As the time of going to press, tickets were still on sale for this Saturday’s game, with an 8.30pm kick off.
In other news Peter Stringer has been named in the Barbarians squad to face Australia at Twickenham this Saturday. The 98-times-capped scrumhalf has not featured in either of Munster’s 23-man squads for the opening two rounds of the Heineken Cup. His release to play with the Barbarians, along with Stringers appearances for the Munster ‘A’ side seem to suggest that the Munster legend is all but a bit part player now for the Red Army.
Fans, not wishing any injury on Murray, Williams or O’Leary, would all love to see the talisman number nine play a few more games for the senior side, such is the love affair the supporters have for the multi-talented Cork native. Surely, the quick passing, hard tackling live wire still has a role to play at the club.
