It is crunch time for Munster as neither themselves or Edinburgh can afford to lose tonight in the battle for a top six finish and European Champions Cup rugby next season.
GUINNESS PRO12: Friday, April 29
MUNSTER (7th) v EDINBURGH (6th), Irish Independent Park, 7.35pm (live TG4/live stream BBC Sport Scotland website)
Team News: Munster head coach Anthony Foley has made five changes for tonight’s crucial GUINNESS PRO12 match against Edinburgh at Irish Independent Park.
There are four alterations in the pack with Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell, Dave Foley and Dave O’Callaghan all returning to the province’s starting line-up.
Kilcoyne and Scannell join Stephen Archer in the front row, Foley has overcome an ankle injury to partner Billy Holland in the second row, while back rower O’Callaghan has rehabbed knee bruising to start on the blindside in a move that sees captain CJ Stander revert to number 8 with Tommy O’Donnell remaining at openside.
The final change comes in the back-three where Andrew Conway links up with Keith Earls and full-back Simon Zebo. Conor Murray and Johnny Holland continue at half-back as do Rory Scannell and Francis Saili in midfield.
Please note the West Stand and East Terrace are now sold out for tonight’s game. Remaining North and South Terrace tickets can be purchased online here, from the Munster Rugby Ticket Offices at Irish Independent Park and Thomond Park, or by calling 0818 719 300.
Meanwhile, Edinburgh boss Alan Solomons has made three changes to the team that secured a losing bonus point away to Leinster in the previous round.
Young full-back Blair Kinghorn retains his spot, the teenager’s 16th appearance for the club in his debut season, while Damien Hoyland and Tom Brown continue on their respective. A change in midfield sees Matt Scott return at outside centre with Andries Strauss in the number 12 shirt, following the injury to Phil Burleigh last time out.
On-loan Welshman Jason Tovey remains at out-half with Sean Kennedy moving from the bench to start in the number 9 jersey.
The pack is unchanged, the Scotland front row of Alasdair Dickinson, Ross Ford and WP Nel book-ended by the back row of Jamie Ritchie on the blindside, John Hardie at openside and Cornell du Preez at no 8.
The second row pairing of Anton Bresler and Ben Toolis is retained, with the former set to make his 50th appearance in black and red.
MUNSTER: Simon Zebo; Andrew Conway, Francis Saili, Rory Scannell, Keith Earls; Johnny Holland, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer, Dave Foley, Billy Holland, Dave O’Callaghan, Tommy O’Donnell, CJ Stander (capt).
Replacements: Mike Sherry, James Cronin, John Ryan, Robin Copeland, Jack O’Donoghue, Duncan Williams, Ian Keatley, Ronan O’Mahony.
EDINBURGH: Blair Kinghorn; Damien Hoyland, Matt Scott, Andries Strauss, Tom Brown; Jason Tovey, Sean Kennedy; Alasdair Dickinson, Ross Ford (capt), WP Nel, Anton Bresler, Ben Toolis, Jamie Ritchie, John Hardie, Cornell du Preez.
Replacements: Stuart McInally, Rory Sutherland, John Andress, Alex Toolis, Magnus Bradbury, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Chris Dean, Dougie Fife.
Referee: Ian Davies (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Dudley Phillips, Nigel Correll (both Ireland)
Television Match Official: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Munster to win: 2/5; Draw: 19/1; Edinburgh to win: 21/10
Pre-Match Quotes: Tommy O’Donnell (Munster) – “At the moment, Edinburgh are ahead of us on points difference. They have what we want so we need to go out with that mentality that at the moment they’re the ones that are ahead of us and we have to go out and attack them.
“We have played in high-pressure games before and there may be one or two faces less (in the Munster squad). But there is a lot of experience in this team and we need to have the confidence from when we have produced on big days. There are probably not trophies and high places at stake but it is the same game, it’s the same players and we need to back each other and keep playing to the end.
2We know exactly what they will bring in attack and defence. They have an excellent back row, some great ball carriers. WP Nel has been one of the best props in European rugby for the last few years. It’s exactly what you want, what you need. And if you come out the right side of it, you will feel a lot better for it, knowing you’ve come out on top against a good team.
“They’ve been building the ethos of how they want to play for the last two years. You can see it developing. From one to eight, they are all very good ball carriers. Then the backs can punch in midfield and when they reload they have a good few threats. So it is going to be a tough, down to the wire game. We are going to need all 23 men.”
Anton Bresler (Edinburgh) – “It’s a huge honour to be named in this side to earn my fiftieth cap for Edinburgh. Since the day I arrived, the club have really welcomed me and I love the family environment we’ve created. I’m really enjoying my time here.
“We have a really challenging game on Friday. We know how tough the Irish provinces are at home – we were reminded of that last time out against Leinster – but we’ll be going all out to ensure we stay in the top six going into our last game.
“With the final match of the season at home, it would be fantastic to have a great home crowd at BT Murrayfield cheering us on to reach the upper level of European competition next season.”
Top Scorers – 2015/16 GUINNESS PRO12: Munster – Points: Ian Keatley 124; Tries: Mike Sherry 5; Edinburgh – Points: Sam Hidalgo-Clyne 84; Tries: Damien Hoyland 8
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
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
Saturday, April 11, 2015 – Edinburgh 3 Munster 34, BT Murrayfield
Saturday, November 7, 2015 – Edinburgh 14 Munster 16, BT Murrayfield
MATCH FACTS:
– Realistically both Munster and Edinburgh require a win to keep their hopes of a Champions Cup place alive
– Munster’s only victory in the last four rounds of GUINNESS PRO12 play was 47-0 against Zebre at Thomond Park in round 18
– The Munstermen’s 12-match winning run in Cork ended when the Ospreys beat them there on February 14
– Edinburgh have won three of their last five PRO12 fixtures but away from home their only victory since early January was by a single point at the Newport Gwent Dragons on March 27
– Munster have lost just one of their last eight PRO12 encounters with Edinburgh: 14-13 in Limerick in September 2014
– Edinburgh have won only once in six previous visits to Irish Independent Park and that was in April 2004
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