MUNSTER face Gloucester in Pool 6 of the Heineken Cup this Saturday, January 11 at 6pm in Kingsholm knowing that a win away from home will all but seal a quarter final spot in this season’s tournament.
With Gloucester suffering eight defeats from 12 games in the Aviva Premiership, most recently a 29-8 home loss against Saracens, Munster are expected to secure at least a four point win against the English club.
With Munster top of the RaboDirect Pro12 ladder, and with a five point gap at the top of the Pool, media focus this week has moved away from the pitch and on to the sidelines.
With Paul O’Connell and Keith Earls the most high profile of players yet to commit their future to Munster, the Red Army’s off the field contract negotiations are threatening to overshadow a potentially season defending weekend for the squad.
Rumours and counter rumours have made guessing what is really going on with contracts a fools errand. It appears that both O’Connell and Earls are deep in negotiations with the IRFU over their central contracts. However, contrary to popular belief, there is no deadline of February 1 set for these talks to conclude.
On the Munster coaching side of things, Rob Penney has all but signed a new one year deal, taking the New Zealander to the end of the 2015 season.
Rob Penney has gone on record this week stating that he hopes his three assistant coaches Anthony Foley, Ian Costello and Simon Mannix remain with him for one more season. However, it is believed there might only be ‘room at the inn’ for three of these roles, due to budgetary constraints and synergy of existing coaching roles.
On the playing front, Munster have been boosted by the news that Conor Murray and Simon Zebo may return for this weekend. Damien Varley and Donncha O’Callaghan are also expected to be involved, however Cathal Sheridan and Donnacha Ryan are ruled out through injury.
Also on the injury front, James Downey (irritated groin) and Keith Earls (bruised shoulder) are back training this week while Sean Dougall, who sustained a mild ankle sprain against Connacht, is expected to re-integrate into training at the end of the week.
Prop James Cronin (lower back) and JJ Hanrahan (groin) will continue to be monitored as the week progresses.
With Sheridan out at 9, Duncan Williams will start, with Penney having to make a call on the fitness of Hanrahan, who has begun to become a real option at 10 over the current out half Ian Keatley.
In Munster ‘A’ news. Peter Malone’s side play Nottingham in the B&I Cup on Friday 10 January at 7.30pm in St Mary’s RFC grounds in Corbally.
