Following their second half collapse to the Scarlets, Munster need to quickly make amends by overcoming Cardiff Blues and keeping pace with their rivals for a home GUINNESS PRO12 semi-final.
GUINNESS PRO12: Saturday, March 4
CARDIFF BLUES (8th) v MUNSTER (3rd), BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park, 5.15pm (live Sky Sports 2 HD)
Team News: Munster director of rugby Rassie Erasmus has made five changes and named Billy Holland as captain for this evening’s GUINNESS PRO12 encounter with Cardiff Blues at BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park.
The two changes in the pack see Darren O’Shea come in to partner skipper Billy Holland in the second row with Robin Copeland making his return from a thumb injury to start at number 8.
Across the back-line, Ian Keatley rejoins Duncan Williams at half-back with Rory Scannell and Jaco Taute resuming their partnership in midfield. Scannell has overcome a knock to his knee and Taute makes the positional switch from full-back. The final change sees Andrew Conway return at full-back.
In managing player-load, New Zealander Tyler Bleyendaal was unavailable for selection this week with lock Dave Foley missing the round 17 game due to illness.
Munster Academy member and Ireland Under-20 international Fineen Wycherley (pictured below) is included on the province’s bench for the second consecutive week. He will win his first Munster senior cap if called upon.
Meanwhile, Cardiff Blues have been forced to make four changes for the visit of Munster. With Wales retaining their Six Nations players, Matthew Rees and Aled Summerhill come into the starting line-up for Kristian Dacey and Alex Cuthbert.
Rhys Gill has also been ruled out due to injury, paving the way for Corey Domachowski to start at loosehead prop, but Josh Navidi has returned to fitness to pull on the number 7 jersey.
Scrum half Lloyd Williams remains captain for the Sky Sports-televised tie, while Sion Bennett, who scored a try against Edinburgh along with Williams, drops to the bench.
There is also a return to the matchday 23 for Wales Under-20 international Rhun Williams following his heroics against Scotland in the U-20 Six Nations last week.
Cardiff claimed a 24-23 victory over Munster at Irish Independent Park earlier this season but Erasmus’ charges have only lost two PRO12 matches since then.
CARDIFF BLUES: Matthew Morgan; Aled Summerhill, Willis Halaholo, Steven Shingler, Tom James; Gareth Anscombe, Lloyd Williams (capt); Corey Domachowski, Matthew Rees, Anton Peikrishvili, George Earle, Jarrad Hoeata, Macauley Cook, Josh Navidi, Nick Williams
Replacements: Kirby Myhill, Marc Thomas, Taufa’ao Filise, James Down, Sion Bennett, Tomos Williams, Garyn Smith, Rhun Williams.
MUNSTER: Andrew Conway; Darren Sweetnam, Jaco Taute, Rory Scannell, Ronan O’Mahony, Ian Keatley, Duncan Williams; Dave Kilcoyne, Rhys Marshall, Stephen Archer, Darren O’Shea, Billy Holland (capt), Dave O’Callaghan, Tommy O’Donnell, Robin Copeland.
Replacements: Kevin O’Byrne, Peter McCabe, Brian Scott, Fineen Wycherley, Conor Oliver, Abrie Griesel, Dan Goggin, Francis Saili.
Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
Assistant Referees: Emanuele Tomo (Italy), Jon Hardy (Wales)
Television Match Official: Jim Yuille (Scotland)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Cardiff Blues to win: 7/5; Draw: 13/1; Munster to win: 4/6
Pre-Match Quotes: Tommy O’Donnell (Munster) – “To lose at Thomond Park for the first time in more than a year was not a run we wanted broken this season, but all is not lost. We know fortune has fallen our way in that recent run, so you have to take defeat on the chin too.
“We were pretty good in that first half, but it was tough playing into that wind too. We could have boxed a little bit cleverer at times. But in fairness to them (the Scarlets) they took their three tries very, very well and played territory after that and defended well.
“Cardiff have so much to play for too, the fact that they are only four points behind Glasgow means they are a bloody decent team with so much to play for in the weeks to come. They have quality operators in the back row.
“You cannot take them lightly in this competition, and we were upset by them earlier this year at Irish Independent Park. They have really experienced players, their back-three are incredibly sharp and well able to score tries from anywhere on the park. We have to go in there with our eyes open and expect a real battle.”
Nick Williams (Cardiff Blues) – “Any team that goes up has to come down and they will be on a low and gunning for us on Saturday. We have to be ready for that and be prepared for the big onslaught Munster can put up.
“This season Munster have gone back to what they know best which is their power game, it’s not the prettiest way to play but it’s very effective and they all buy into it.
“They definitely play with a lot of heart and there’s been big things that have happened behind the scenes, with the passing of Axel (Anthony Foley), that will pick up any team.
“They had their first home defeat since that happened, against the Scarlets last week so they will be tough. We always talk about their power game but you have to remember we have one of our own as well and we want to put that out on Saturday. The Munsters of old have always started up front so hopefully we can negate that and go from there.”
Top Scorers – 2016/17 GUINNESS PRO12: Cardiff Blues – Points: Steve Shingler 114; Tries: Tom James 6; Munster – Points: Tyler Bleyendaal 102; Tries: Ronan O’Mahony 7
2016/17 TEAM FORM: Cardiff Blues – Played 16, Won 8, Lost 8, 37 Points; W 34-16 v Edinburgh (home), W 24-23 v Munster (away), W 23-19 v Glasgow Warriors (home), W 23-21 v Zebre (away), L 16-13 v Leinster (home), L 46-24 v Ospreys (away), L 26-15 v Scarlets (home), W 34-28 v Benetton Treviso (away), L 18-7 v Connacht (away), L 35-22 v Ulster (home), W 27-16 v Newport Gwent Dragons (home), L 15-10 v Scarlets (away), L 29-15 v Glasgow Warriors (away), L 19-13 v Connacht (home), W 57-20 v Benetton Treviso (home), W 18-17 v Edinburgh (away); Munster – Played 16, Won 13, Lost 3, 59 Points; W 23-13 v Scarlets (away), L 24-23 v Cardiff Blues (home), W 20-16 v Newport Gwent Dragons (away), W 28-14 v Edinburgh (home), W 49-5 v Zebre (home), Played , L 25-14 v Leinster (away), W 15-14 v Ulster (away), W 33-0 v Ospreys (home), W 46-3 v Benetton Treviso (home), W 16-15 v Glasgow Warriors (away), W 29-17 v Leinster (home), W 16-9 v Connacht (away), W 10-9 v Edinburgh (away), W 45-17 v Newport Gwent Dragons (home), W 25-23 v Ospreys (away), L 30-21 v Scarlets (home)
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Saturday, February 8, 2014 – Munster 54 Cardiff Blues 13, Thomond Park
Saturday, November 1, 2014 – Cardiff Blues 24 Munster 28, BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park
Saturday, February 14, 2015 – Munster 33 Cardiff Blues 16, Irish Independent Park
Saturday, October 17, 2015 – Munster 35 Cardiff Blues 27, Irish Independent Park
Friday, March 18, 2016 – Cardiff Blues 37 Munster 28, BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park
Friday, September 9, 2016 – Munster 23 Cardiff Blues 24, Irish Independent Park
MATCH FACTS:
– Cardiff Blues have won their last two matches in the GUINNESS PRO12, against Benetton Treviso and Edinburgh, but have not won three in-a-row since September
– The Blues have been victorious at home just twice since round 3 of the PRO12, against the Newport Gwent Dragons in round 11 and Benetton Treviso in round 15
– Munster’s nine-match winning streak in the PRO12 ended at home to the Scarlets (30-21) last Friday
– The Munstermen have not lost away from home in the Championship since Leinster beat them at the Aviva Stadium on October 8
– Cardiff have won their last two fixtures with Munster and have only once before achieved a PRO12 season’s double over the province (back in 2007/08)
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