Munster have their full contingent of Ireland internationals back on board for the first time since January as they take their GUINNESS PRO12 play-off bid on the road to Edinburgh this weekend.
GUINNESS PRO12: Saturday, April 11
EDINBURGH (7th) v MUNSTER (3rd), BT Murrayfield, 7.30pm (live TG4/BBC ALBA)
Team News: Munster head coach Anthony Foley has named a strong team to face Edinburgh at BT Murrayfield on Saturday, including the final trio of returning internationals – Paul O’Connell, Peter O’Mahony and Conor Murray – in the starting line-up.
There are six changes to the side that defeated Connacht at Thomond Park just under a fortnight ago. An all-new front row sees Dave Kilcoyne and BJ Botha pack down either side of Duncan Casey who makes his first start at hooker since the end of January.
Ireland captain O’Connell returns to partner the in-form Billy Holland in the second row, while the inclusion of Munster skipper O’Mahony at blindside flanker is the only change to the back row.
Tommy O’Donnell, who starts at openside in a back row completed by number 8 CJ Stander, draws ever closer to the 100-cap milestone. The Tipperary man will win his 99th cap for the province this weekend.
Scrum half Murray resumes his partnership with Ian Keatley, while the rest of the back-line is unchanged with Denis Hurley, Andrew Smith, Simon Zebo, Keith Earls and Felix Jones (pictured below) all retaining their starting positions.
James Cronin is included among the replacements for the first time since picking up a knee injury on his RBS 6 Nations debut against Italy in February. Donnacha Ryan also takes his place on the bench having completed his return-to-play protocols following a concussion sustained while playing for Munster ‘A’ against Ulster Ravens last month.
There is good news too regarding the fitness of Cathal Sheridan this week. After almost five months on the sidelines with a forearm injury, the scrum half is set to get some game-time with UL Bohemians in the Ulster Bank League on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Edinburgh boss Alan Solomons has kept faith with the starting line-up from last weekend’s European Challenge Cup quarter-final win over London Irish. The Scottish outfit are locked in a battle with Connacht and the Scarlets for sixth spot.
Retaining his place at full-back is Greig Tonks while Dougie Fife comes back on the right wing with Tim Visser on the left. Phil Burleigh and Andries Strauss are retained in the centre.
Tom Heathcote, Edinburgh’s top points scorer in this season’s PRO12, starts again at out-half alongside the in-form Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, who produced a man-of-the-match performance against Irish.
The pack is unchanged from last Sunday’s European outing, with Alasdair Dickinson at loosehead prop, WP Nel at tighthead and Ross Ford at hooker. Ford will also captain Edinburgh once more as Mike Coman continues with his return-ot-play protocols following a head knock against Scarlets two weeks ago.
Anton Bresler and Ben Toolis combine in the second row with Roddy Grant, Hamish Watson and David Denton in the back row at blindside flanker, openside and number 8 respectively.
EDINBURGH: Greig Tonks; Dougie Fife, Phil Burleigh, Andries Strauss, Tim Visser; Tom Heathcote, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne; Alasdair Dickinson, Ross Ford (capt), WP Nel, Anton Bresler, Ben Toolis, Roddy Grant, Hamish Watson, David Denton.
Replacements: Stuart McInally, Grant Shiells, John Andress, Fraser McKenzie, Tomas Leonardi, Nathan Fowles, Sam Beard, Tom Brown.
MUNSTER: Felix Jones; Keith Earls, Andrew Smith, Denis Hurley, Simon Zebo; Ian Keatley, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Duncan Casey, BJ Botha, Billy Holland, Paul O’Connell, Peter O’Mahony (capt), Tommy O’Donnell, CJ Stander.
Replacements: Eusebio Guinazu, James Cronin, Stephen Archer, Donnacha Ryan, Dave O’Callaghan, Duncan Williams, JJ Hanrahan, Ronan O’Mahony.
Referee: Ian Davies (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Neil Paterson, Andrew McMenemy (both Scotland)
Television Match Official: Iain Ramage (Scotland)
Pre-Match Quotes: Alan Solomons (Edinburgh) – “Munster come to BT Murrayfield at full strength, well rested, on the back of a great Six Nations for Ireland and being out of Europe, they only have the PRO12 play-offs on their mind.
“So we are all fully aware of what Saturday brings. The players are looking forward to what will be a big match and know that only their best will do.”
Simon Zebo (Munster) – “The competition for places is really heating up and the standard was set quite high by the boys who were playing week in, week out for the duration of the Six Nations.
“It’s not going to be easy for internationals to come back into the side – we know we have to train well and perform well if given opportunities because the strength in depth of the squad is really strong at the moment.
“We need to go after Edinburgh from the off, we have to, they are a quality side with some great performances of late. They also have some deadly finishers and we haven’t forgotten the lesson they though us in September at Thomond Park.
“Everybody at training was raring to go (this week), the tempo was really high with everybody looking to put their best foot forward, especially after no game last weekend. This Saturday is a really big game for us, in fact all the remaining games are. With the race for qualification so tight, every game is like a cup final for us.”
Top Scorers – 2014/15 GUINNESS PRO12: Edinburgh – Points: Tom Heathcote 100; Tries: Tim Visser 5; Munster – Points: Ian Keatley 123; Tries: CJ Stander, Simon Zebo 6 each
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Saturday, November 26, 2011 – Munster 34 Edinburgh 17, Thomond Park
Saturday, September 1, 2012 – Edinburgh 18 Munster 23, Murrayfield
Saturday, February 9, 2013 – Munster 30 Edinburgh 3, Musgrave Park
Saturday, September 7, 2013 – Munster 34 Edinburgh 23, Musgrave Park
Saturday, May 3, 2014 – Edinburgh 12 Munster 55, Meggetland
Friday, September 5, 2014 – Munster 13 Edinburgh 14, Thomond Park
MATCH FACTS:
– Edinburgh have won their last three matches in all competitions since tripping up in Cardiff on March 1
– The Scotsmen’s run of eight successive victories in all competitions was halted when Ulster visited BT Murrayfield in the PRO12 on February 20
– Munster have lost just one of their last six PRO12 matches: 26-12 to the Ospreys in Swansea in round 17
– The Munstermen have scored at least one try in their last 23 PRO12 matches
– Edinburgh’s 14-13 victory in Limerick in the opening round of this season’s PRO12 campaign ended a run of five successive defeats to the Munstermen
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