Munster will want to put a three-match losing run against Scottish opposition behind them when they host GUINNESS PRO12 front runners Glasgow Warriors on the night of Irish Independent Park’s official opening.
GUINNESS PRO12: Saturday, February 28
MUNSTER (4th) v GLASGOW WARRIORS (1st), Irish Independent Park, 7.15pm (live Sky Sports 3 HD)
Team News: Munster head coach Anthony Foley has made seven changes in personnel for Saturday’s GUINNESS PRO12 match against Glasgow Warriors at Irish Independent Park.
Foley again names Denis Hurley as captain. The Cork man will lead the province for the third consecutive game. An all-new front row sees John Ryan and BJ Botha start on either side of hooker Eusebio Guinazu.
Donncha O’Callaghan and Billy Holland continue in the second row with the in-form Jack O’Donoghue and Sean Dougall coming in to join CJ Stander in the back row.
It is as you were at half-back and in midfield with Duncan Williams, Ian Keatley, Hurley and Keith Earls all retaining their starting positions, while two further changes see Ronan O’Mahony and JJ Hanrahan come in to join Andrew Conway in the back-three.
After successfully rehabbing a knee injury sustained against Clermont Auvergne in December, Australian centre Andrew Smith returns and is named among the replacements.
Less than 2,000 tickets now remain for the round 16 game which will also mark the official opening of Munster Rugby’s new Cork home. Adult tickets from €;20 and family tickets from €;40 can be purchased online by clicking here.
Tickets can also be bought from the Munster Rugby Ticket Offices in Irish Independent Park and Thomond Park, and on matchday – outside the Dolphin Gate from 12pm, and from 5.45pm at the Sunday’s Well gate.
Meanwhile, Adam Ashe, the 21-year-old Scotland international, has returned from injury. He will start at blindside flanker, making his first appearance for Glasgow Warriors since the win over Montpellier in France last October.
Connor Braid, Murray McConnell and Will Bordill will make their first starts for the club, while Alex Toolis and Tommy Spinks are also in line to make their debuts from the bench. D’arcy Rae is on bench duty too, having returned from his loan spell with Benetton Treviso for this game.
Braid starts his first game for Glasgow at out-half following confirmation that he will be staying at Scotstoun until the end of the season, while McConnell is handed his first start for the Warriors at scrum half. It will be the 22-year-old’s fifth appearance for the club.
Alex Allan comes in at loosehead prop and Pat MacArthur, a try against the Ospreys, is retained at hooker, with Rossouw de Klerk continuing at tighthead.
James Eddie moves from the back row into the engine room in place of the suspended Leone Nakarawa and he will partner captain Al Kellock. Bordill comes in for the injured Tyrone Holmes in the back row.
Winger Lee Jones is included among the replacements after recovering from the ankle injury he sustained in the PRO12 victory over Zebre earlier this month.
MUNSTER: JJ Hanrahan; Andrew Conway, Keith Earls, Denis Hurley (capt), Ronan O’Mahony; Ian Keatley, Duncan Williams; John Ryan, Eusebio Guinazu, BJ Botha, Donncha O’Callaghan, Billy Holland, Jack O’Donoghue, Sean Dougall, CJ Stander.
Replacements: Niall Scannell, Dave Kilcoyne, Stephen Archer, Dave O’Callaghan, Paddy Butler, Neil Cronin, Andrew Smith, Ivan Dineen.
GLASGOW WARRIORS: Peter Murchie; Niko Matawalu, Richie Vernon, Fraser Lyle, DTH van der Merwe; Connor Braid, Murray McConnell; Alex Allan, Pat MacArthur, Rossouw de Klerk, James Eddie, Al Kellock (capt), Adam Ashe, Will Bordill, Josh Strauss.
Replacements: Dougie Hall, Jerry Yanuyanutawa, D’arcy Rae, Alex Toolis, Tommy Spinks, Glenn Bryce, Lee Jones, Rory Hughes.
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Mark Patton, John Carvill (both Ireland)
Television Match Official: Dermot Moloney (Ireland)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Munster to win: 2/9; Draw: 22/1; Glasgow Warriors to win: 3/1
Pre-Match Quotes: Ronan O’Mahony (Munster) – “Training hard, doing a lot of extras, and trying to get consistent performances is key. You want to play for your team-mates, your family and your coaches. You want to put your best foot forward every weekend.
“Luckily enough I’ve gotten the opportunity to wear the jersey a lot this season and I’m very grateful for that. I want to keep pushing forward and keep striving to be better.
“Glasgow are top of table and the top spot in the league has changed a bit in the last few weeks. Glasgow are in our way now this weekend and we want to put our best foot forward and go out there and put in a good performance and get a win. They are a very good side.
“We did a lot of review work and they have the ability to attack from anywhere in the park. We have to stay on our toes. They have very good players. Their 9 Matawalu plays on the wing as well and he is a massive threat for them.
“They’ve a great continuity game, they don’t get tied into mini rucks, they’ve a huge amount of lads that can offload on the team, their constantly dangerous with quick taps, and they’ve a lot of variations off lineouts and a good set piece. We’ll have to look after that, stay awake in defence, be alive for everything and get a performance at the end of it.”
Gregor Townsend (Glasgow Warriors) – “After last weekend’s win over the Ospreys, we now face another of the in-form teams in the PRO12 and we’ve had some massive games with Munster over the last couple of seasons.
“They are sitting high up in the league, just four points behind us, so we’re well aware of the importance of this game.
“A number of players could make their debuts for the club this weekend, which is a big opportunity for them to show what they can do and we’re also delighted to welcome Adam (Ashe) back into our squad.”
Top Scorers – 2014/15 GUINNESS PRO12: Munster – Points: Ian Keatley 113; Tries: CJ Stander, Simon Zebo 5 each; Glasgow Warriors – Points: Duncan Weir 65; Tries: Niko Matawalu, DTH van der Merwe 4 each
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Saturday, December 1, 2012 – Munster 31 Glasgow Warriors 3, Thomond Park
Friday, March 29, 2013 – Glasgow Warriors 51 Munster 24, Scotstoun Stadium
Friday, October 25, 2013 – Glasgow Warriors 6 Munster 13, Scotstoun Stadium
Saturday, April 12, 2014 – Munster 5 Glasgow Warriors 22, Thomond Park
Friday, May 16, 2014 – Semi-final – Glasgow Warriors 16 Munster 15, Scotstoun Stadium
Saturday, December 20, 2014 – Glasgow Warriors 21 Munster 18, Scotstoun Stadium
MATCH FACTS:
– Munster’s only defeat in their last five fixtures in all competitions was 33-10 at Saracens in the European
Champions Cup on January 17
– Munster have won their last four home games in the GUINNESS PRO12 and have been victorious in their last seven fixtures in Cork since Cardiff Blues beat them there in January 2013
– The Munstermen have lost their last three encounters with Scottish opponents
– Glasgow Warriors have lost only once in the PRO12 since round 8: 20-8 to Edinburgh at BT Murrayfield
on January 2
– The Warriors’ only victory in their last four visits to the Irish provinces came in this equivalent fixture against Munster in Limerick in round 19 last season
– Munster have won only one of their last five fixtures against the Warriors: 13-6 at Scotstoun Stadium in October 2013, while Glasgow’s only previous win in Cork came in May 2008
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