IT’S Magners League week four this weekend and Munster’s Lions are back in action. This Sunday at 17.05, Munster take on the Newport Gwent Dragons in Musgrave Park (Live on Setanta). The 25 man squad announced this week by Tony Mc Gahan includes all of Munster’s Lions contingent, excluding David Wallace.
The tie on Sunday will serve as a season opener for messrs O Gara, O Connell, O Callaghan and Earls. New signing Jean De Villiers is also expected to play some part, however team manager Shaun Payne believes that the big South African number 12 will play “no more than a half”.
The 25 man squad named is a hugely impressive sight when you consider that there are still more internationals to return. Niall Ronan (rib), David Wallace (back), Jerry Flannery (calf), Peter Stringer (calf) and Paul Warwick (foot) all miss out this week, while Dougie Howlett is rested.
The one area of concern, outside of where to fit all these stars, is the number seven berth. With Munster’s two first choice sevens out with injury, the backrow announced this Friday will make for some interesting reading. Nick Williams who played 50 minutes of club rugby last week is included in the squad as are Tommy O Donnell and James Coughlan. The selection headache does not stop there. Mafi, Murphy, Earls and De Villiers will all be looking to fill the 12 and 13 shirts, while Jones, Earls and Hurley could yet be a back three.
Munster arrive into week four, or week one for some, with two wins and one loss. The 22-20 win last week in LLanelli was described this week by manager Payne as “excellent and crucial for the mental development of the side”
The opposition in Cork on Sunday will be in the shape of the Dragons from Newport in Wales. Ever the underdog, the “third” Welsh province will be looking to add Munster’s scalp to their impressive season start. Wins over Ulster and Glasgow and a loss to Leinster prove that the Dragons will be a hard nut to crack.
Speaking ahead of the tie this week, Munster manager Payne was stressing how important this fixture is. “Our pre season has been massively disrupted and the return of the internationals is something we have to deal with. The idea now is to give those returning players as much game time as possible. With the first game in the ERC on October 10, the pressure is now on to make sure we do not lose ground in the Magners League as well as getting the combinations and performances right”
With games coming up against Leinster and Northampton, the business end of the season is well and truly under way. With a squad like Munster posses, the battle for two titles is well under way. Although, if last year thought Munster fans anything, it is that you can never predict sport.
Munster squad to face Newport: Horan, Buckely, Brugnaut, Hayes, Fogarty, Varley, O Driscoll, O Connell, Ryan, O Callaghan, Quinlan, O Donnell, Williams, Leamy, Coughlan, OLeary, Morland, O Gara, Manning, Mafi, De Villiers, Murphy, Hurley, Earls, Jones.
