URC holders Munster are unbeaten after three rounds thanks to a bonus-point win over Sharks, a draw at Benetton and a recent easy victory over Dragons, a club which hasn’t won on Munster soil since 2004.
Their defence was dealt a major blow at the weekend with confirmation that World Cup winning lock RG Snyman will be sidelined for a while with a chest injury.
Ulster – who Munster meet in Belfast on Friday (7.35pm) will be smarting from their defeat to Connacht in Galway which saw them drop to eighth in the table.
The Westerners are the only side to have won all their three games so far this season but they face a big task when they travel to take on Ben Healy’s Edinburgh on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Joey Carbery’s hand injury – which has necessitated surgery at the outset of the week – comes at a difficult time for Munster.
Quality out-halves are thin on the ground and Tony Butler’s ‘parachute in’ on Saturday against weak opposition, though adequate, would be risky at a higher level.
The performances of the Academy boys has been a revelation and it will be interesting to see how the coaches will plan their selection for the Ulster game this Thursday.
Speaking to the media at the weekend, head coach Graham Rowntree spoke about his vision of encouraging the young talent in the academy to compete against the older group for starting roles by “making the seniors fight for selection.”
It was an interesting question and answer piece, which finished with Rowntree obliging the interviewer by giving him a rare big smile.
After scoring 15 points against Connacht, out-half Jake Flannery is in terrific form at present with Ulster.
The Tipperary man, who came through the schools with Rockwell, then the Junior League with Kilfeacle and District followed by a stint with Shannon in the AIL, was recruited into the Munster Academy before being signed on a three year contract with Ulster this season.
Flannery is already making his mark and he is full of confidence: “We really want to win this week and against Munster. ” said Flannery at the weekend. “We’re real hungry now for this.”
Scoring two tries, converting one and kicking a penalty against Connacht, it is unlikely that Flannery will be left on the bench for the visit of Munster to Ravenhill.
Written by Aidan Corr.
