FOLLOWING on from their big victory against Toulon, Munster have it all to do against Northampton Saints at a likely sold-out Thomond Park on Saturday (kick-off 5.15pm).
Pool 4 in this European Champions Cup is still not decided and with their opponents already qualified and guaranteed home advantage, it will be interesting to see both selections.
With the top four from the six teams qualifying, Munster’s recent winning bonus point should see them through but it is most likely that Exeter, away to Bayonne, will hold on to second spot, with Munster in third.
The imminent fixture has all the makings of a ‘cracker.’ It is not going to be easy for the home side and if the Saints field a full-strength XV it could test the URC champions to the limit.
Northampton certainly have outstanding individual players with Tom Parson running in a hat-trick of tries at the weekend, Tommy Freeman topping the carries and off-load stats and Fin Smith contributing 31 points from the last three matches. Throw-in Courtney Lawes, who had 19 lineout takes in the recent outing, and the power of the opposition is not to be ignored.
Munster’s performance in Toulon has to be lauded. Mike Prendergast, attack coach, had his homework done and he benefitted from his knowledge of some of the players from his coaching days in France.
Three of the four tries were copybook rugby, Jackie Crowley’s pin-pointed right foot creating the space for Tom Ahern and Simon Zebo and Calvin Nash’s remarkable courage and pace sealing the result that has Munster within touching distance of another European adventure.
Not surprisingly, all the talk of late has been about utility player Tom Ahern with forwards coach Denis Leamy remarking that he is “quite hard to handle when he gets the ball on the wing”.
“When the move begins, he creates a mis-match on the wing and he has the athleticism to break clear. He can play at six or seven and he has stepped into the second-row very well. He is a very special player.”
Talking about the visit of Northampton, Ahern was in no doubt about the challenge of the task.
“They are a very physical side and they score a lot of points. It’s always exciting to be playing in European competitions in Thomond Park and we are looking forward to it,” said the Waterford man.
The last 16 fixtures are listed for early April.
Following a consultation, Jack O’Donoghue will not require knee surgery and will be managed conservatively by the medical department. However, he is unavailable for three to four months.
