It is a sign of how far Munster have come in recent times when the province can name two squads totalling 50 players, a further 11 are actually out injured, for a double header of games at Thomond Park this Saturday. The Munster squad to face the Ospreys were put through their paces this week ahead of a crucial Magners League tie.
The game itself could been seen as a play off of sorts for a home semi final berth. Munster, fresh from an away win in Connacht, sit in third spot in the Magners League, level on points with this weekend’s opposition.
Munster manager Shaun Payne this week spoke of the importance of the next two weekends in the season for Munster. “You have seen what’s happened throughout the season. Nothing has changed with our selection policy this week. Obviously in the Magners League games before a big Heineken Cup game we’ve always tried to play as full a side as we can. So absolutely we’ll be trying to do the same thing in this game. A win can make us slightly more comfortable. The Ospreys game was always going to be important for us, for the reasons stated that it is leading up to a semi-final game. At this time of the year there are all sorts of permutations going on. Every single game is very important. The Connacht game was very important to us for our qualification for us for the Magners League. I don’t think we could have read anything into the selection there. We’re making the selections week by week on what is necessary to get us through, and in the best interest of the team moving forward. I know it is a difficult scenario, you don’t know exactly where you are going to be in a week or two; there are some other results that you are dependent on. But we’re quite happy with where we are at the minute. Obviously the Ospreys is an important game. And Cardiff will be a very important game as well.”
On naming the 27 man squad, the manager kept his cards close to his chest. “We always like to cover our bases when it comes to selection, and there are always niggles. I’m not going to say exactly who the niggles are.”
Speaking of niggles and looking ahead, as all fans are beginning to, to the semi final, doubts still surround the fitness of Paul O Connell, Keith Earls and Doug Howlett. With all three left out of this weekend’s squad, there will be no more chances for the trio to get some game time ahead od the Biarritz clash. A worry for all indeed. “Keith is the same situation, as it is for Paulie. They are both hangovers from the internationals and they have been ongoing issues. It’s an injury, (groin) that flares up and settles down. It’s an injury that needs rest, and the more you load it the worse it’s going to get. So at the minute what we’re trying to do is manage their workloads. We’d be confident that both of them will be available, but these are not injuries like broken arms that heals within a set amount of time, these are difficult injuries and are very frustrating for us to have to deal with. It’s a case of wait and see. Obviously they are doing some rehab work, but the flip side is that they can’t be on feet in training all week because they’ll flare the injury up. So it is a balancing act that’s in place with these injuries. As for Doug, he is recovering well from his hamstring injury. We are quietly confident about him” added Payne.
The first game in the double header is the semi final of the British and Irish Cup. Munster ‘A’ under the guidance of Anthony Foley, Ian Costello, Mick Galway and Eugene Mc Govern, take on Ulster Ravens at 3.30pm. The game is a chance for the players to impress the first team management seeing as the game will be a curtain raiser to the main event. Speaking this week, ahead of the game, Munster ‘A’ manager, Anthony Foley feels that this competition has been a huge success. “This system has been great for both players and coaches alike. The squads named this week just show how strong Munster are and what it means to be part of it. The lads we coach every day are not all contracted, some of these lads are working or in college, but they give of their time to make that effort. That is what is so unique about Munster. The club element goes way beyond what we all see on the TV at weekends”.
The Munster v Ulster game kicks off at 3.30pm, while the Munster v Ospreys kicks off at 6.30pm.
