Connacht face into the Christmas inter-pros with a renewed sense of hope after victories in the HEC and Pro12.
CONNACHT
Starting XV: 15 Gavin Duffy, 14 Fionn Carr, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Eoin Griffin, 11 Matt Healy, 10 Dan Parks, 9 Frank Murphy
1 Brett Wilkinson, 2 Jason Harris-Wright, 3 Nathan White, 4 Mick Kearney, 5 Craig Clarke (c), 6 Andrew Browne, 7 John Muldoon, 8 Eoin McKeon
Replacements: 16 Dave Heffernan, 17 Denis Buckley, 18 Rodney Ah You, 19 Aly Muldowney 20 George Naoupu, 21 Kieran Marmion, 22 Jack Carty, 23. Darragh Leader
Unavailable/Injured: Jake Heenan, Sean Henry, Michael Swift, Willie Faloon, Mata Fifita, Dave McSharry, Craig Ronaldson, Danie Poolman, Tiernan O’Halloran, Miah Nikora, and Kyle Tonetti.
Starting XV: 15 Gavin Duffy, 14 Fionn Carr, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Eoin Griffin, 11 Matt Healy, 10 Dan Parks, 9 Frank Murphy
1 Brett Wilkinson, 2 Jason Harris-Wright, 3 Nathan White, 4 Mick Kearney, 5 Craig Clarke (c), 6 Andrew Browne, 7 John Muldoon, 8 Eoin McKeon
Replacements: 16 Dave Heffernan, 17 Denis Buckley, 18 Rodney Ah You, 19 Aly Muldowney 20 George Naoupu, 21 Kieran Marmion, 22 Jack Carty, 23. Darragh Leader
Unavailable/Injured: Jake Heenan, Sean Henry, Michael Swift, Willie Faloon, Mata Fifita, Dave McSharry, Craig Ronaldson, Danie Poolman, Tiernan O’Halloran, Miah Nikora, and Kyle Tonetti.
Munster
Starting XV: 15 Felix Jones, 14 Keith Earls, 13 Johne Murphy, 12 James Downey, 11 Ronan O'Mahony, 10 JJ Hanrahan, 9 Duncan Williams
1 James Cronin, 2 Niall Scannell, 3 John Ryan, 4 Donnacha O'Callaghan, 5 Dave Foley, 6 Paddy Butler, 7 Sean Dougall, 8 James Coughlan (c)
Replacements: 16 Damian Varley, 17 Alan Cotter, 18 Stephen Archer, 19 Billy Holland, 20 CJ Stander, 21 Gerry Hurley, 22 J Holland, 23 Denis Hurley
Starting XV: 15 Felix Jones, 14 Keith Earls, 13 Johne Murphy, 12 James Downey, 11 Ronan O'Mahony, 10 JJ Hanrahan, 9 Duncan Williams
1 James Cronin, 2 Niall Scannell, 3 John Ryan, 4 Donnacha O'Callaghan, 5 Dave Foley, 6 Paddy Butler, 7 Sean Dougall, 8 James Coughlan (c)
Replacements: 16 Damian Varley, 17 Alan Cotter, 18 Stephen Archer, 19 Billy Holland, 20 CJ Stander, 21 Gerry Hurley, 22 J Holland, 23 Denis Hurley
Venue: Thomond Park
Date: Sunday, 14th December 2013
Kick-off: 19:15
TV Broadcasts: TG4, Rabo Matchday Live
Referee: Dudley Phillips (IRFU, 39th competition game)
MATCH DISCUSSION THREAD ON THE FORUM
Date: Sunday, 14th December 2013
Kick-off: 19:15
TV Broadcasts: TG4, Rabo Matchday Live
Referee: Dudley Phillips (IRFU, 39th competition game)
MATCH DISCUSSION THREAD ON THE FORUM
After a dog-fight against the Newport-Gwent Dragons, Connacht came out on top and claimed a long-overdue victory in the Pro12. The game was not pretty, in stormy conditions and against a side who probably had the better game and looked more threatening in space. Yet Connacht managed to battle to an ugly three point win in the face of a slicker running foe, in a happy reversal of what had been their fortunes in the competition thus far in the season. How many near misses have Connacht had where the fans wearing green have been proud of the way their team played attacking rugby? So a reverse in fortunes, where a win is eked out of a relatively poor performance is a welcome change.
A large part of the credit for the victory over Dragons must be handed to the pack, whose superb lineout and (especially) scrum work was superb and prevented the Dragons backs have free reign on the pitch. Luckily the pack is largely intact for the match against Munster, with only one, albeity notable, exception. Jake Heenan whose superb form has him steadily in the running for the Connacht Clan Player of the Season award has damaged his shoulder and is out this match at least.
His contribution in the absense of Faloon has been superb and without both of our excellent opensides Connacht are forced to play with a back-row with Muldoon at 7. No doubt Mul will hammer the snot out of anything wearing red, and endevour to fill the snaffling role vacated by Jake and Willie but it is not his most developed skill. The good news for the pack is that there is decent depth on the bench in all positions with the possible expection of hooker where Heffernan offers back up, with only a few games under his belt. He has impressed in his opening season though, but may end up against the experienced operator of Damien Varley.
At scrum-half Marmion is given a deserved rest, and Murphy starts in his place. His partnership with Parks is relatively under-developed but they are both very experienced and so should settle in quickly, and are opposite a pair of relatively inexperienced players in Williams and Hanrahan. In the centre McSharry's injury forces Lam to return to the idea of Griffin at 12 and Henshaw at 13, where Griffin's excellent distribution is less of an asset, but where he can bring Henshaw's physicality into the game more often. Opposite them Downey starts at inside centre with Murphy at outside centre. With rumors abound of Griffin moving to Munster next season it will be interesting to see that dynamic.
The outside backs for Connacht are unchanged, with Carr and Healy continuing the recent run on the wings, as form would dictate. At fullback Duffy returns to offer a good boot and a steady pair of hands under the high ball. All three have been playing well but will need to be on top of their games against the lightning quick Earls and Jones.
Connacht won last week because the pack got on top of the Dragons in a major way in the scrum and any free-kick offense was punished by Connacht forcing Dragons backwards, even on their own scrums. Many fans will feel some grievance at how the breakdown was adjudged and perhaps they will be justified in that, but set-piece play alone against Munster will not get Connacht over that line, so whatever way the game is reffed today Connacht will need to be able to run some accurate plays against the Munster backline or we will end up in a scrap on the ground without an openside.
That said this Munster side is not the best that Connacht have played against and Connacht need to be able to march into Thomand with a certain air of confidence, if not arrogance. That might get beaten out of them on the pitch but that should be the default starting point for a team that beat Toulouse in Stade Ernest Wallon. Connacht have the quality in the pack and across the park to match the quality of this Munster side, and have an edge over them in the centre in that regard. If they can maintain high focus and concentration (the bane of many Connacht games this season has been momentary slips of both) then Connacht need not fear this Munster side, though they still must overcome the legendary atmosphere of Thomand. Connacht can win this match-up.
