Munster embark on the second half of their Champions Cup campaign with three crunch fixtures in as many weeks, beginning with the rescheduled trip to Paris to play a winless Racing 92 side.
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS CUP – POOL 1: Saturday, January 7
RACING 92 (4th) v MUNSTER (2nd), Stade Yves-du-Manoir, 4.45pm local time/3.45pm Irish time (live Sky Sports 1 HD/FR2/beIN Sports/Newstalk 106-108fm/highlights TG4)
Team News: Munster director of rugby Rassie Erasmus has made ten changes to the team that defeated Connacht as the GUINNESS PRO12 leaders play their rescheduled Champions Cup round 1 match against Racing 92 at Stade Yves-du-Manoir on Saturday.
There are five changes in the pack where Niall Scannell and John Ryan both return to join James Cronin in the front row, while Donnacha Ryan comes into the second row to partner Billy Holland who makes the switch from blindside flanker.
Tommy O’Donnell has overcome an ankle injury sustained at the Sportsground last weekend to continue at openside, with the returning duo of captain Peter O’Mahony and CJ Stander completing a strong back row unit.
Conor Murray and Tyler Bleyendaal resume their half-back partnership, as do centres Rory Scannell and Jaco Taute, who has scored three tries so far in Europe this season.
Simon Zebo’s return at full-back sees Andrew Conway move to the right wing with Ronan O’Mahony, Munster’s top try scorer in the PRO12 to date with five scores, named on the opposite flank.
Included among the replacements, should he feature on Saturday afternoon, Keith Earls will make his 50th European appearance. Along with those ruled out through injury, South African pair Jean Kleyn and Thomas du Toit were unavailable for selection this week due to illness.
Munster also need just one try to reach 400 in Europe’s top flight and would become the third team to reach this milestone alongside Toulouse and Leicester Tigers.
Meanwhile, over 20,000 tickets have now been sold for the return encounter with Racing at Thomond Park on Saturday, January 21 (kick-off 5.30pm). Tickets can be purchased online here, from the Munster Rugby Ticket Offices at Thomond Park and Irish Independent Park or by calling 061 421103.
Meanwhile, the Racing 92 management, including assistant coach and Munster legend Ronan O’Gara, have made 11 personel changes to the side that lost 17-11 at Toulon in the Top 14 last Sunday.
Winger Teddy Thomas is the only survivor behind the scrum as Racing, who failed to pick up a point in their first three European pool games, rotate their squad. Dan Carter drops to a bench which includes former Munster prop Julien Brugnaut and versatile Dublin-born half-back James Hart who made his debut for Racing back in August.
Ex-Munster centre Casey Laulala is a familiar name in the hosts’ back-line, featuring in midfield alongside fellow 34-year-old former All Black Anthony Tuitavake. Juan Imhoff and Joe Rokocoko also lead a threatening back-three.
Another former New Zealand international, 37-year-old back rower Chris Masoe, is one of three players retained up front. Masoe will captain Racing from the blindside flank, with Francois van der Merwe joined by fellow South African Gerbrandt Grobler in the second row and 23-year-old loosehead Khatchik Vartanov forming an all-new front row with France-capped duo Camille Chat and Luc Ducalcon.
Munster supporters will join Racing fans to form a guard of honour for both squads as they arrive at the stadium around 2.30pm local time, in one of the planned tributes to the late Anthony Foley. The Racing players will wear red T-shirts showing Foley’s name and the number 8 during their warm-up.
Racing, whose official supporters club have given free accommodation to their Munster counterparts, will also unfurl ‘Axel’ and ‘Red Army welcome back’ banners during a minute’s applause before kick-off.
RACING 92: Juan Imhoff; Joe Rokocoko, Casey Laulala, Anthony Tuitavake, Teddy Thomas; Benjamin Dambielle, Xavier Chauveau; Khatchik Vartanov, Camille Chat, Luc Ducalcon, Gerbrandt Grobler, Francois van der Merwe, Chris Masoe (capt), Matthieu Voisin, Antonie Claassen.
Replacements: Virgile Lacombe, Julien Brugnaut, Cedate Gomes Sa, Ali Williams, So’otala Fa’aso’o, James Hart, Dan Carter, Henry Chavancy.
MUNSTER: Simon Zebo; Andrew Conway, Jaco Taute, Rory Scannell, Ronan O’Mahony; Tyler Bleyendaal, Conor Murray; James Cronin, Niall Scannell, John Ryan, Donnacha Ryan, Billy Holland, Peter O’Mahony (capt), Tommy O’Donnell, CJ Stander.
Replacements: Rhys Marshall, Dave Kilcoyne, Stephen Archer, Dave Foley, Jack O’Donoghue, Duncan Williams, Keith Earls, Francis Saili.
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant Referees: Tim Wigglesworth, Paul Dix (both England)
Television Match Official: Rowan Kitt (England)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Racing 92 to win: 13/5; Draw: 19/1; Munster to win: 3/10
Pre-Match Quotes: Tyler Bleyendaal (Munster) – “It’s a huge challenge, we’ve prepared for them before, we’re excited for it and we’re really looking forward to a great start for a big block of games coming up. Our pool is packed with great opposition and we have to perform, our focus is on Racing and the challenges they bring which is a lot of experience and flair.
“There is a lot at stake but we’ve just got to focus on this first game, we’re just trying to build and make it to the quarter-finals and that starts this week. We’ve got momentum and we worked hard to get those results, we’re building nicely but this is a unique challenge.
“Racing have got a lot of Kiwis there, and a lot of good Kiwis in guys like Dan Carter, Joe Rokocoko and Casey Laulala, who everyone here (at Munster) knows about. It doesn’t stop there, their size, power and offloading threat is a big challenge but one we’re looking forward to.”
Rassie Erasmus (Munster) – “If you look at Racing’s squad depth and obviously their budget and player budget and the stature of their club and where they finished last year in both competitions, they could field a great team.
“And you wouldn’t know if they filled a second team with those guys that they aren’t actually better. They may be younger but are just potentially as good.
“I started wandering down that line of thought, thinking about it, but then I thought what would it help? We can only control how well we train and play and I’m sure playing there whatever team they put our it is going to be a massive challenge for us.
“The way the modern game has gone, the 23 players, teams like that, that have massive depth and size. It’s tough to challenge those teams over 80 minutes. In the old days you just could be fitter than them and outplay them with work-rate.”
Current Form – Racing 92 – (Top 14 Championship): Lost 15-9 v Bordeaux-Bègles (away), Won 29-16 v Lyon (home), Won 28-14 v Toulouse (home), Lost 47-10 v Clermont Auvergne (away), Won 41-30 v Toulon (home), Lost 31-23 v Castres Olympique (away), Lost 25-16 v Brive (away), Won 29-22 v Stade Francais (home); (Champions Cup): Lost 27-17 v Leicester Tigers (away); (Top 14 Championship): Won 16-3 v Bayonne (away), Won 21-9 v Montpellier (home), Lost 26-17 v Pau (away), Won 29-24 v Grenoble (home), Drew 23-23 v La Rochelle (away); (Champions Cup): Lost 23-14 v Glasgow Warriors (home), Lost 23-7 v Glasgow Warriors (away); (Top 14 Championship): Won 23-10 v Castres Olympique (home), Lost 17-11 v Toulon (away)
Munster – (GUINNESS PRO12): Won 23-13 v Scarlets (away), Lost 24-23 v Cardiff Blues (home), Won 20-16 v Newport Gwent Dragons (away), Won 28-14 v Edinburgh (home), Won 49-5 v Zebre (home), Lost 35-14 v Leinster (away); (Champions Cup): Won 38-17 v Glasgow Warriors (home); (GUINNESS PRO12): Won 15-14 v Ulster (away), Won 33-0 v Ospreys (home), Won 46-3 v Benetton Treviso (home), Won 16-15 v Glasgow Warriors (away); (Champions Cup): Won 38-0 v Leicester Tigers (home), Lost 18-16 v Leicester Tigers (away); (GUINNESS PRO12): Won 29-17 v Leinster (home), Won 16-9 v Connacht (away)
Top Scorers – 2016/17 European Champions Cup: Racing 92 – Points: Dan Carter 21; Tries: Juan Imhoff, Dan Carter 2 each; Munster – Points: Tyler Bleyendaal 45; Tries: Jaco Taute 3
Previous European Meetings: 2
Sunday, January 20, 2013 – Pool 1 – Munster 29 Racing Metro 92 6, Thomond Park
Saturday, October 13, 2012 – Pool 1 – Racing Metro 92 22 Munster 17, Stade de France
European Cup Records:
Racing 92 –
2015/16: Runners-up
2014/15: Reached the quarter-finals
2013/14: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
2012/13: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
2011/12: Failed to qualify from Pool 2
2010/11: Failed to qualify from Pool 2
Munster –
2015/16: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
2014/15: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
2013/14: Reached the semi-finals
2012/13: Reached the semi-finals
2011/12: Reached the quarter-finals
2010/11: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
2009/10: Reached the semi-finals
2008/09: Reached the semi-finals
2007/08: Champions
2006/07: Reached the quarter-finals
2005/06: Champions
2004/05: Reached the quarter-finals
2003/04: Reached the semi-finals
2002/03: Reached the semi-finals
2001/02: Runners-up
2000/01: Reached the semi-finals
1999/00: Runners-up
1998/99: Reached the quarter-finals
1997/98: Failed to qualify from Pool D
1996/97: Failed to qualify from Pool D
1995/96: Failed to qualify from Pool D
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