Munster Rugby kicks off it’s defence of the Magners League this weekend with an away tie in Glasgow on Friday night. The game kicks off at 8pm and is live on Setanta Ireland.
The Friday game sees Munster in their new kit for the first time, (competitively) while the opening fixture also will see some new faces wear the famous red shirt for the very first time.
Some new faces in the 25 man squad named this week include, French prop Julian Brugnaut, returning hooker Damien Varley, young locke Ian Nagle, New Zealand number nine Toby Morland, Leinster convert Felix Jones and high flying backs in the shape of Danny Barnes from Tralee and Scott Deasy from Cork.
Munster manager Shaun Payne spoke to the Limerick Post this week ahead of the game and the South African native was excited about the new season.
“We are all looking forward to the new season now. It has been a great pre season for all the lads and with the internationals coming back now the squad is taking shape. The academy system has been proving very successful over the last few years and this season fans can expect to see a lot of Scott Deasy, Ian Nagle, Danny Barnes and more who have come through”.
The juggling act that is moulding a disjointed squad, (The Munster Lions are not allowed come back to competitive action until Magners League week four) is something that Payne feels is more beneficial than a hindrance.
“It is not ideal, but it is something we are used too. We have to work with this arrangement every year. The international players come back and then they are off again as quickly. All we can do as a squad here in Munster is work as hard with the internationals when they are here, (two a day practices) while focusing on the rest of the squad in the interims. This weekend’s game against Glasgow will show how strong this squad is.”
Indeed the 25 man squad that was named is a very strong squad on paper. Any squad that can boast Marcus Horan, Peter Stringer, Paul Warwick, Mick O Driscoll, Julian Brugnaut and Denis Leamy is one not to be messed with.
The fact that Munster are without Lions, Hayes, O Callaghan, O Connell, Wallace, O Gara and Earls, while also missing, Daragh Hurley (neck), Flannery (calf), Quinlan (suspension), Williams (knee), O Leary (ankle), Dowling (knee) and O Boyle (hamstring), means that signs are good for another long season ahead for Munster.
One worry for fans of course is that can all these players be kept fit and happy? With a certain Jean De Villiers arriving soon where are Munster going to put all these stars?
Shaun Payne thinks that it is more exciting than a stress. “When you have players like we have in our squad it is easy to motivate them for games and seasons. The competition for places does that for a side. Players now know that when they get their chance they must take it and hold on to it. I can’t wait to get started”
Start they will and it is a tough one. Munster may have done the double over Glasgow last season, but Firhill is a tricky place to go. A 26-13 win last season was preceded by an 11 all draw in 2007 and a 24-13 defeat in 2006. Glasgow on a Friday night is not an ideal start to a season but a win would set up some momentum for the home opener Friday week against Cardiff at Thomond Park.
It is going to be a long season. Magners League play-offs and Heineken Cup finals are a long way off now, but Munster have to start somewhere. Enjoy the season.
Munster Squad to face Glasgow:
Marcus Horan, Tony Buckley, Julien Brugnaut, Denis Fogarty, Damien Varley, Mick O’Driscoll, Donnacha Ryan, Ian Nagle, Billy Holland, Tommy O’Donnell, Niall Ronan, Denis Leamy, James Coughlan, Peter Stringer, Toby Morland, Jeremy Manning, Paul Warwick, Lifeimi Mafi, Tom Gleeson, Barry Murphy, Doug Howlett, Denis Hurley, Scott Deasy, Felix Jones, Danny Barnes.
