GUINNESS PRO12 Preview: Munster v Connacht

The leading two teams after the opening eight rounds of the GUINNESS PRO12 meet at Thomond Park as Munster look to maintain their impressive home form, while table-topping Connacht chase their first competitive victory in Limerick in 29 years.

GUINNESS PRO12: Saturday, November 28

MUNSTER (2nd) v CONNACHT (1st), Thomond Park, 5.15pm (live Sky Sports 4 HD)

Team News: Munster head coach Anthony Foley has made six changes to the team that beat Benetton Treviso in the Champions Cup for Saturday’s return to GUINNESS PRO12 action against Connacht at Thomond Park.

Loosehead prop James Cronin will win his 50th Munster cap with Argentinian international Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino set to make his first start for the province.

The Ireland-capped Cronin is one of two changes in the front row with Niall Scannell making his first PRO12 start of the season at hooker, while BJ Botha continues at tighthead.

Donnacha Ryan again partners Mark Chisholm in an unchanged second row. In the back row, the return of Robin Copeland at number 8 sees captain CJ Stander switch to blindside flanker with Jack O’Donoghue remaining at openside.

Tomas O’Leary comes in to partner Ian Keatley at half-back, with Conor Murray nursing a bruised foot, and a positional change for Keith Earls sees him move back to midfield alongside Francis Saili who switches to the inside centre berth.

The final two alterations are in the back-three with Gonzalez Amorosino and the returning Gerhard van den Heever starting on the left and right wings respectively. Andrew Conway will make his fifth start at full-back this season.

Should he feature from the bench, UL Bohemians clubman Kevin O’Byrne will make his first PRO12 appearance of the current campaign.

Munster v Connacht tickets – adults (€;20), families from €;40 (two adults & two kids), juniors (€;7) – can be purchased online here, from the Munster Rugby Ticket Offices at Thomond Park and Irish Independent Park, or by calling 0818 719 300.

Tickets will also be available from the Ticketmaster van in Fan Zone Plaza at Thomond Park from 12pm on Saturday and from 3.15pm at the Thomond Park West Stand ticket booth.

Why not incorporate this game with a Champions Cup fixture and another PRO12 game of your choice (not including Leinster)? Munster Match Packs start from just €;45 and also save you 10% across the cost of all three tickets. Click here to start building yours.

Meanwhile, for Connacht’s first interprovincial clash of the season, head coach Pat Lam has made nine personnel changes to the team that started against Brive in the European Challenge Cup.

USA international out-half AJ MacGinty is named in the number 10 shirt for his first PRO12 start. The 25-year-old is joined at half-back by Ireland international Kieran Marmion, who this week signed a new two-year deal with the province.

Matt Healy returns from injury to take his place on the left wing, while Galway man Tiernan O’Halloran is named on the right wing in a shift that sees Robbie Henshaw start at full-back for the second time this season. Craig Ronaldson is promoted from the bench to line out in the centre with the only player to have started every game this season, Bundee Aki.

In the pack, only two players, Nathan White and Eoghan Masterson, are retained from last week. Denis Buckley and Academy hooker Shane Delahunt make up the front row with White, while Ultan Dillane and Aly Muldowney start together in the second row for the second time this season.

John Muldoon returns to captain the side in a back row with Masterson at number 8 and Academy flanker James Connolly who will make his PRO12 debut in Limerick, having made four European appearances to date.

Academy and former Ireland Under-20 back rower Sean O’Brien is named among the replacements. He made his Connacht debut in Russia earlier this month but Saturday would represent a first PRO12 appearance for the 20-year-old from Galway.

Connacht’s list of players who are currently injured or unavailable includes Tom McCartney, Rodney Ah You, JP Cooney, Quinn Roux, Ben Marshall, Andrew Browne, Nepia Fox-Matamua, Jake Heenan, Eoin McKeon, John Cooney, Fionn Carr, Danie Poolman, Dave McSharry, Api Pewhairangi and Conor Finn.

MUNSTER: Andrew Conway; Gerhard van den Heever, Keith Earls, Francis Saili, Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino; Ian Keatley, Tomas O’Leary; James Cronin, Niall Scannell, BJ Botha, Donnacha Ryan, Mark Chisholm, CJ Stander (capt), Jack O’Donoghue, Robin Copeland.

Replacements: Kevin O’Byrne, Dave Kilcoyne, John Ryan, Dave Foley, Jordan Coghlan, Duncan Williams, Rory Scannell, Denis Hurley.

CONNACHT: Robbie Henshaw; Tiernan O’Halloran, Bundee Aki, Craig Ronaldson, Matt Healy; AJ MacGinty, Kieran Marmion; Denis Buckley, Shane Delahunt, Nathan White, Ultan Dillane, Aly Muldowney, John Muldoon (capt), James Connolly, Eoghan Masterson.

Replacements: Dave Heffernan, Ronan Loughney, Finlay Bealham, George Naoupu, Sean O’Brien, Ian Porter, Jack Carty, Darragh Leader.

Referee: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Mark Patton, Jonathan Peak (both Ireland)
Television Match Official: Simon McDowell (Ireland)

Match Odds (Paddy Power): Munster to win: 2/9; Draw: 19/1; Connacht to win: 7/2

Pre-Match Quotes: James Cronin (Munster) – “Thing are going well for me at the moment. We have a very competitive squad so it’s a case of keeping the head down and working hard and that’s when you’ll get your rewards.

“There’s myself, Dave Kilcoyne and John Ryan all competing for the loosehead position so you can’t take anything for granted and you need to take each week as it comes. There’s a rotation policy in place and if you’re in, brilliant, and if you’re not, you work hard to put your hand up for the following week.

“Connacht are very good across the park but as a forward I have a big appreciation for their scrum and lineout and we’ll have our work cut out for us when it comes to set piece. We need to front up on Saturday and put in a performance.

“I played against them in the pre-season just gone and the previous two seasons, and I have scrummaged against the likes of Nathan White and Rodney Ah You in matches and at Irish camp. We know each other well and it will make for a good contest this weekend.”

Pat Lam (Connacht) – “Injuries withstanding, we’ve picked this team based on the weather expected on Saturday as well as the game-plan we have in place to try and deal with Munster’s strengths.

“We have a long list of casualties but as I’ve said before, it’s up to the next guy to come in and do the job and I’m really pleased with the way players, especially the younger guys, have stepped up so far this season.

“The amount of youth coming through in this side is exciting with 13 of our matchday squad graduates or current members of the Connacht Academy.

“We are under no illusion as to the task at hand this weekend. Axel (Anthony Foley) has done a great job moulding and building a tough and resilient Munster side over the last two years. Our team work and work ethic on and off the ball will need to be at its best to give us a chance to get the four points on offer.”

Top Scorers – 2015/16 GUINNESS PRO12: Munster – Points: Ian Keatley 73; Tries: CJ Stander, Andrew Conway 3 each; Connacht – Points: Jack Carty 52; Tries: Nepia Fox-Matamua, Matt Healy, Danie Poolman 3 each

RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:

Saturday, December 22, 2012 – Connacht 12 Munster 16, the Sportsground
Saturday, March 23, 2013 – Munster 22 Connacht 0, Musgrave Park
Friday, December 27, 2013 – Munster 22 Connacht 16, Thomond Park
Saturday, April 19, 2014 – Connacht 23 Munster 32, the Sportsground
Thursday, January 1, 2015 – Connacht 24 Munster 16, the Sportsground
Saturday, March 28, 2015 – Munster 42 Connacht 20, Thomond Park

MATCH FACTS:

– Munster’s only defeat in any competition this season was 25-22 at Parc y Scarlets in round 5 of the GUINNESS PRO12, while the Munstermen have won their last 13 home games in the PRO12 at their two venues since the Ospreys visited Thomond Park in September 2014

– Connacht have also lost just once in any competition this season: 33-32 at Glasgow Warriors in round 2 of the PRO12

– Connacht have won their last five PRO12 fixtures, equalling their best ever run in the league in 2002

– Connacht’s 24-16 victory over Munster in Galway on New Year’s Day last was their first success against their neighbours since 2008

– Connacht have not, however, beaten Munster in a competitive game at Thomond Park since 1986