MUNSTER rugby return to Pro12 action this weekend as they face the Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade on Friday night.
The game, which will not be televised, kicks off at 7.30pm. With Ireland playing Australia on Saturday, Munster will be without their frontline internationals, however some players might be released from camp later in the week. The will of Joe Schmidt will decide who returns to bolster a Munster side which may feature new short-term signing Pat Howard. The West Province centre is available for selection this weekend having arrived in Limerick last week.
One man who will be lining out for Munster on Friday night at Rodney Parade is Paddy Butler. The number eight is relishing the opportunity to stake his claim for a place in the side as Munster enter a busy few weeks of rugby.
“I think everyone looks at it as an opportunity for those who haven’t been in the squad for the past couple of weeks for the bigger games, so this is our chance to put our hand up for selection. You have to take it when you get the chances at Munster, in a team like this you have to take your chances when you get them,” the Shannon clubman added.
The Munster squad is just back from a week off, having used the week previous as a preseason week, for strength and conditioning top ups.
“For the first week of the two, we had a bit of a mini pre-season. It was a good chance to get back into the gym, back on the pitch and top up on our fitness for the coming weeks. It is a big week ahead with Newport, so everyone is just focused on the job now, nailing down the detail early on in the week so we can go out there and play with aggression, play with what we do best, go out and try and get a good result over there in Newport.”
Munster enter this weekend’s game with a 5-2 record from their opening seven games. The Dragons on the other hand are 1-6 and lie in tenth spot in the 12 team league. Butler knows however, that this weekend will be a real test, as the Dragons will target this Munster side as a chance to win their second game of the season.
“It is a tough place to go, Rodney Parade. It is a dogged place, the crowd is in on top of you. It is good, games you like playing because it’s a challenge. Hopefully we will be up to the task. They are very good at the breakdown. I think they are ear-marking the match against us. For the past couple of weeks they are talking it up in a few papers and stuff. They will be raring to go. We need to come with our ‘A’ game and try and get a win over there.”
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