Munster face tough challenge in Leicester

LEICESTER TIGERS V MUNSTER

Welford Road

In a replay of last season’s Final, reigning champions Leicester Tigers take on Munster at Welford Road with a place in the last four on offer for the victor.

The last match between these two giants of European rugby in May of last year ended in a 15-9 win for the Tigers at Twickenham, as the men from the English midlands become the first team to successfully defend the Heineken title and they will expect a massive challenge from the Irish province.

“We learnt a reasonable amount about them at last year’s Final but at the same time so many things have changed,” said Tigers Director of Rugby Dean Richards. “They have new personnel and this year they are a totally different side.

“Munster’s strength is that they are a good all-round team. They have quality halfbacks in Peter Stringer and Ronan O’Gara and their centre partnership is not bad at all.

Leicester have been boosted by the return to fitness of influential Wallaby centre Rod Kafer who has shrugged off a niggling groin injury to take his place in the centre alongside Leon Lloyd.

Munster have a full squad from which to select their starting XV with coach Alan Gaffney hopeful that his side have the temperament to offer their hosts a mighty challenge on their home turf.

“Both sides have had very good years to date – though Leicester probably not so much as normal within the Zurich Premiership – but they are always a great force to be reckoned with as is evident by the contribution they make to the England national team,” said Gaffney.

“Playing at Welford Road is an enormous advantage to Leicester. But Munster have proved they can travel well. Both sides seem to be in good form and Leicester are unquestionably one of the top sides in Europe, despite their form in the Premiership.”

The teams:

Leicester Tigers: 15 Tim Stimpson, 14 Geordan Murphy, 13 Leon Lloyd, 12 Rod Kafer, 11 Steve Booth, 10 Austin Healey, 9 Tom Tierney, 8 Will Johnson, 7 Neil Back, 6 Martin Corry, 5 Ben Kay, 4 Martin Johnson (captain), 3 Darren Garforth, 2 Dorian West, 1 Perry Freshwater.
Replacements: 16 George Chuter 17 Franck Tournaire 18 Josh Kronfeld 19 Adam Balding 20 Harry Ellis, 21 Sam Vesty 22 Freddie Tuilagi.

Munster: 15 J Staunton, 14 J Kelly, 13 M Mullins, 12 AN Other, 11 A Horgan, 10 R O’Gara, 9 P Stringer, 8 A Foley, 7 Alan Quinlan, 6 J Williams (captain), 5 P O’Connell, 4 D O’Callaghan, 3 J Hayes, 2 F Sheahan, 1 M Horan.
Replacements: 16 S Kerr, 17 J Blaney, 18 M O’Driscoll, 19 D Leamy, 20 D Malone, 21 AN Other, 22 D Crotty.

Kick-off: Sunday, 16.00 BST, 15.00 GMT

Courtesy of www.planetrugby.com