Two of the GUINNESS PRO12’s form teams meet in Limerick as the Scarlets – Munster’s first opponents of the Rassie Erasmus era back in September – look to upset the table toppers.
GUINNESS PRO12: Friday, February 24
MUNSTER (1st) v SCARLETS (4th), Thomond Park, 7.35pm (live TG4)
Team News: Munster director of rugby Rassie Erasmus has named his team for tonight’s GUINNESS PRO12 round 16 encounter with the Scarlets at Thomond Park.
In making five changes to the side that grinded out last weekend’s win over the Ospreys last weekend, tonight’s game comes too soon for Jack O’Donoghue (ankle) and Rory Scannell (knee). The pair are expected to make a return to full training at some point next week.
On a positive front, Jaco Taute has made a full recovery from his shoulder knock sustained against the Newport Gwent Dragons to start at full-back this weekend. The only other change to the back-line sees Academy centre Dan Goggin take his place alongside Francis Saili in midfield.
Handed his second PRO12 start, another Academy member Conor Oliver will make his first appearance in the number 8 jersey as he joins Dave O’Callaghan and Tommy O’Donnell in the back row.
Tipperary lock Dave Foley links up with Billy Holland in the engine room as Stephen Archer takes his place in the front row, packing down next to New Zealander Rhys Marshall and in-form loosehead Dave Kilcoyne.
Among the replacements, Bantry native and first year Academy lock Fineen Wycherley is included in his first PRO12 squad. The 19-year-old Young Munster player has made two starts for the Ireland Under-20s in this year’s U-20 Six Nations. Finally, Ian Keatley and Andrew Conway return from Ireland camp to complete the province’s matchday 23.
Munster v Scarlets tickets – priced at €;20 (adults), €;7 (juniors), €;7 (students) and €;40 (family (two adults & two juniors)) – can be purchased online from Ticketmaster.ie, from the Munster Rugby Ticket Offices at Irish Independent Park and Thomond Park, or by calling 061 421103. Tickets will be available to buy at the ground this evening.
Meanwhile, Scarlets head coach Wayne Pivac has made two changes to the side that ran in six tries against Zebre last Friday. Winger DTH van der Merwe returns from a hamstring strain and Ryan Elias also slots back in at hooker.
Scrum half Aled Davies has been released from the Wales camp, while Steff Evans has not been made available for this weekend’s clash.
Former Wales Under-20 internationals Dafydd Hughes and Ioan Nicholas have been named on the replacements bench with Hughes hoping to make his PRO12 debut and Nicholas aiming for his first PRO12 appearance of the season.
MUNSTER: Jaco Taute; Darren Sweetnam, Francis Saili, Dan Goggin, Ronan O’Mahony; Tyler Bleyendaal (capt), Duncan Williams; Dave Kilcoyne, Rhys Marshall, Stephen Archer, Dave Foley, Billy Holland, Dave O’Callaghan, Tommy O’Donnell, Conor Oliver.
Replacements: Kevin O’Byrne, Peter McCabe, Brian Scott, Darren O’Shea, Fineen Wycherley, Abrie Griesel, Ian Keatley, Andrew Conway.
SCARLETS: Johnny Mcnicholl; DTH van der Merwe, Steff Hughes, Hadleigh Parkes (capt), Tom Williams; Dan Jones, Jonathan Evans; Wyn Jones, Ryan Elias, Werner Kruger, Tom Price, Tadhg Beirne, Aaron Shingler, James Davies, Will Boyde.
Replacements: Dafydd Hughes, Luke Garrett, Nicky Thomas, Rynier Bernardo, Morgan Allen, Aled Davies, Aled Thomas, Ioan Nicholas.
Referee: Dan Jones (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Simon Rees (Wales), Jonny Erskine (Ireland)
Television Match Official: Charlie Samson (Scotland)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Munster to win: 1/4; Draw: 19/1; Scarlets to win: 3/1
Pre-Match Quotes: Rassie Erasmus (Munster) – “It will be a good test. The Scarlets concede a very low amount of tries. They really defend well. They play a more tactical game, although having said that, they vary their game more than the Ospreys.
“I think it was a satisfying win against the Ospreys (last week). The first 15, 20 minutes were terrible from us. Our physicality wasn’t up there so to turn it around was very positive.
“They were totally dominant for the first 15 minutes. For Jacques (Nienaber) and for the players to rectify that during the game is very positive. They will also learn lessons. You go away from home and respect other teams’ attack.
“For a team that scored so many tries (like the Ospreys), you shouldn’t be surprised about the quality of their attack in the first 15 minutes. You should know that and we must learn from that.”
Wayne Pivac (Scarlets) – “You don’t have to have a look at too many clips to see how Munster play the game but they’re very, very, efficient.
“They play a territory game and have a strong defence. They’re a strong side and not only are they efficient in the way they play the game but they’ve also got a great fighting spirit in the squad this year.
“Week in, week out they’re performing over the 80 minutes, every team is striving to do that but they’ve done it really, really well. They’ve had some close calls but they’ve come out on the right side and that’s a sign of a well bonded team.”
Top Scorers – 2016/17 GUINNESS PRO12: Munster – Points: Tyler Bleyendaal 96; Tries: Ronan O’Mahony 7; Scarlets – Points: Rhys Patchell 91; Tries: Steff Evans 6
2016/17 TEAM FORM: Munster – Played 15, Won 13, Lost 2, 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); Scarlets – Played 15, Won 11, Lost 4, 49 Points; L 23-13 v Munster (home), L 20-9 v Edinburgh (away), L 19-8 v Ulster (away), W 17-8 v Connacht (home), W 22-6 v Benetton Treviso (away), W 31-27 v Newport Gwent Dragons (home), W 26-15 v Cardiff Blues (away), W 27-3 v Glasgow Warriors (home), W 38-29 v Leinster (home), W 31-24 v Zebre (away), L 19-9 v Ospreys (away), W 15-10 v Cardiff Blues (home), W 16-13 v Ulster (home), W 26-14 v Glasgow Warriors (away), W 42-7 v Zebre (home)
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Saturday, March 1, 2014 – Scarlets 18 Munster 13, Parc y Scarlets
Friday, October 10, 2014 – Munster 17 Scarlets 6, Thomond Park
Saturday, February 21, 2015 – Scarlets 25 Munster 25, Parc y Scarlets
Friday, October 23, 2015 – Scarlets 25 Munster 22, Parc y Scarlets
Saturday, May 7, 2016 – Munster 31 Scarlets 15, Thomond Park
Saturday, September 3, 2016 – Scarlets 13 Munster 23, Parc y Scarlets
MATCH FACTS:
– Munster have won their last eight matches in all competitions, while in the GUINNESS PRO12 they have lost just once since round 2: at Leinster in October
– The Scarlets have been defeated only once in the PRO12 since mid-September: 19-9 to the Ospreys at Liberty Stadium on December 27
– The Welsh region have won away from home against an Irish province just once since November 2013, and that by a single point at Ulster a year ago
– Munster’s only defeat in their last five encounters with the Scarlets was 25-22 in Llanelli in round 5 last year, while the Scarlets’ only previous victory at Thomond Park since they became a region was in September 2003
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