WITH just six complete rounds of the RaboDirect PRO12 left, the race for the Play-Offs is well and truly on.
Whilst Leinster are forging ahead with an 11 point lead at the top of the table, the fight for the second home Play-Off spot is intense with six of the chasing pack still in with a realistic chance of landing a coveted home tie.
Munster face the Newport Gwent Dragons in Wales this Saturday evening, (kick off at 18.30) in what is a crucial match in terms of play off spots. Munster are in third spot at present just one point behind the Ospreys with a game in hand. That game in hand is the Aironi re-fixture. The game was cancelled due to bad weather a couple of weeks ago and is now fixed for March 11 at 3pm in Italy.
This weekend’s opponents, Newport Gwent Dragons, have won their last two games in the RaboDirect PRO12 against Edinburgh and Aironi. However they have not won three in a row in the competition since this time last year.
The Dragons only loss at Rodney Parade in the PRO12 this season was 6-10 to Scarlets on 30 December. However, the Men from Gwent have won just one of their last nine encounters with Irish provinces.
On the other hand, Munster have won their last five games in all competitions since their 17-33 defeat at Ulster on 30 December. The Munstermen’s solo defeat on Welsh turf in their last six visits was 13-19 at Ospreys on 3 December.
The last five fixtures between the two teams have all been won by the home side on the day, whilst Munster have not won at Rodney Parade since 7 March 2009.
Munster reported a clean bill of health from last Friday’s RaboDirect PRO12 game against Cardiff Blues that ended in a 16-13 win.Forwards coach Anthony Foley has now departed for Dublin to join the national management team in place of Gert Smal who has been ruled out of further involvement because of illness. Replacing Foley in the Munster set-up will be Niall O’Donovan stepping up to replace Foley.
O’Donovan was assistant coach to Declan Kidney when Munster won the Heineken Cup in 2006 and most recently has been Asst Coach/Manager of the British & Irish side that has reached the semi-final of that competition this season.
From www.munsterrugby.ie
