IT’S the dream pairing, interim Munster coach Ian Costello testing his tactical talents against ROG (Ronan O’Gara/La Rochelle); home support out-numbering the travelling Red Army and a battle between two rugby giants on the lush green combat zone of Stade Marcel-Deflandre.
Preparations are already well underway by all elements for this Champions Cup round of 16 at the start of April.
There will be much media space filled between now and kick-off time.
Munster’s weekend result against Northampton Saints was disappointing, but they can take an amount of positives from the 80 minutes.
The manner in which they battled back in the latter minutes of the game was encouraging; Denis Leamy will be happy with the rearguard and wingers Calvin Nash and Diarmuid Kilgallen were on fire every time they got clear. Northampton appear to be Munster’s bogey side when it comes to cup rugby and it was ‘same old story’ in Cinch Stadium.
Is it possible that Munster could feature in the latter stages of the competition?
The answer is YES, with players like our world-class operator Tadhg Beirne, a rejuvenated Conor Murray, and Jack Crowley, who continues to perform spectacularly this season.
With Costello taking the leading role at present, there are murmurs that Mike Prendergast could be given the job of head coach.
As attack coach, he is certainly succeeding in providing a sparkling backline that has reaped rich rewards in recent time.
Maybe Munster should, in the words of Roy Keane, “just get on with it” and hand Prendergast the job.
On Saturday, Munster can pick up URC points at bottom side Dragons in Wales, an outing in which the visitors are likely to give some of their less-experienced players a run.
