GUINNESS PRO12 derby games will grab the headlines over the Easter weekend as Munster look to stay on course for a home semi-final and Ulster, who have not beaten their provincial rivals in three years, need to win to stay in touch with the top four.
GUINNESS PRO12: Saturday, April 15
MUNSTER (2nd) v ULSTER (5th), Thomond Park, 3pm (live Sky Sports 3 HD)
Team News: Munster director of rugby Rassie Erasmus has made nine changes to his starting line-up for this afternoon’s GUINNESS PRO12 derby match against Ulster at Thomond Park.
Included in the side are Donnacha Ryan and Tyler Bleyendaal who have completed their return-to-play protocols this week, following last Saturday’s hard-fought 10-7 victory over Glasgow Warriors in Cork.
A changed front row sees Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell and John Ryan selected as the starting trio, while Ryan links up with Billy Holland in the second row.
There are two changes in the back row with only Waterford youngster Jack O’Donoghue retained at number eight. Captain Peter O’Mahony and Tommy O’Donnell return to the flanks.
The half-back pairing of Bleyendaal and Duncan Williams remain in place, while Keith Earls, Rory Scannell and Simon Zebo are introduced to the back-line with Earls on the left wing, Scannell inside Francis Saili, and Zebo at full-back.
Ian Keatley is named among the replacements after rehabbing a knee ligament injury sustained against Cardiff Blues at the start of March. James Cronin is also fit for bench duty after overcoming a bang to his knee in last weekend’s encounter with Glasgow.
Munster v Ulster tickets can be purchased online here and from the Munster Rugby Ticket Office at Thomond Park on match day.
Meanwhile, Les Kiss’ selected Ulster team shows just three changes from last Friday’s disappointing draw with Cardiff Blues as they aim to extend their run of seven games unbeaten and push towards a spot in the Championship play-offs.
There are two changes in the back-three as Jacob Stockdale, Ulster’s top try scorer in the PRO12 this season with eight, comes in at full-back to replace the injured Jared Payne. Andrew Trimble, who made his return from a hand injury in a second half appearance last weekend, is preferred to fellow Ireland international Craig Gilroy on the right wing with Charles Piutau retaining the number 11 jersey.
Stuart Olding and Luke Marshall will continue their centre partnership, while Stuart McCloskey will provide strong midfield cover from the bench as he is in line to make his first senior appearance since the home win over Edinburgh, having fully recovered from a calf injury.
Paddy Jackson, who contributed a try and four successful kicks at goal against Cardiff, once again pairs up with Ruan Pienaar at half-back.
Chris Henry is the sole change in the pack as he comes in at openside flanker, with Sean Reidy shifting to number 8 and Iain Henderson continuing at blindside. The front five remains unchanged as props Andrew Warwick and Wiehahn Herbst are retained alongside Rory Best in the front row, with Kieran Treadwell and Alan O’Connor once again selected in the engine room.
Paul Marshall, Gilroy and McCloskey are the back-line options among the replacements, while Rob Herring, Callum Black, Rodney Ah You, Robbie Diack and Clive Ross will provide the forward cover in Limerick.
MUNSTER: Simon Zebo; Darren Sweetnam, Francis Saili, Rory Scannell, Keith Earls; Tyler Bleyendaal, Duncan Williams; Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell, John Ryan, Donnacha Ryan, Billy Holland, Peter O’Mahony (capt), Tommy O’Donnell, Jack O’Donoghue.
Replacements: Rhys Marshall, James Cronin, Stephen Archer, Dave O’Callaghan, Jean Deysel, Angus Lloyd, Ian Keatley, Andrew Conway.
ULSTER: Jacob Stockdale; Andrew Trimble (capt), Luke Marshall, Stuart Olding; Charles Piutau, Paddy Jackson, Ruan Pienaar; Andrew Warwick, Rory Best, Wiehahn Herbst, Kieran Treadwell, Alan O’Connor, Iain Henderson, Chris Henry, Sean Reidy.
Replacements: Rob Herring, Callum Black, Rodney Ah You, Robbie Diack, Clive Ross, Paul Marshall, Stuart McCloskey, Craig Gilroy.
Referee: Marius Mitrea (Italy)
Assistant Referees: Emanuele Tomo (Italy), John Carvill (Ireland)
Television Match Official: Stefano Penne (Italy)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Munster to win: 1/3; Draw: 19/1; Ulster to win: 12/5
Pre-Match Quotes: Francis Saili (Munster) – “Last week’s game against Glasgow was tough and I came off that field feeling like I had been run over by a train. I’m just glad we scraped that win because it has put us in a good position.
“With these kind of games against Glasgow you have to grind it out, and it’s not one of those where it’s going to be a high-scoring game, it was always going to be a close one.
“I think in the last few minutes of the game when they were literally right on our line and they were just hammering and hammering us, we were confident enough in our defensive systems to trust it and just make sure we kept them out of the game.
“Munster-Ulster are always very close games and when we played them earlier in the season it was just a one-point win with Rory Scannell’s drop kick at the end. After their draw with Cardiff last week, Ulster are coming down trying to get one over on us and get back into the top four.
“I know him (Charles Piutau) quite well, I actually know him since school. I played against him and played alongside him as well for many years.
“He is going to be one of the guys that we will have to keep an eye on but it’s a team sport and we just have to trust our defensive systems and hopefully shut him down because we know he’s got some twinkle toes. But like I have always said – once you cross that line, no friends on the field.”
Andrew Trimble (Ulster) – “This is the last chance and we’ve got three ‘cup finals’ between now and the end of the season. We have to show how good we can be because we still believe it. A lot of people don’t believe it but that’s because we haven’t proved it, so that’s fair enough.
“There’s a lot of character in this team, there’s a lot of stuff people haven’t seen. We know we can be good on our day but we have to be brave. I think if we put ourselves under pressure, it can bring the best out of us.
“We’ve got a small bit of joy (winning at Thomond Park in 2012 and 2014), but generally you go down there and encounter a very physical 15. We all know how big a challenge it is – it’s an intimidating environment and you have to get yourself ready for it.
“I think very little needs to be said on weeks like this, everybody knows what to expect. If you don’t match what they bring to the table, you’ll be kicked out of the gate. You have to play out of your skin to get a win.
“We have the right respect for the opposition, but we also know what we’re capable of. We just have to be tough out there and produce a big performance, because there’s no other option.”
Top Scorers – 2016/17 GUINNESS PRO12: Munster – Points: Tyler Bleyendaal 115; Tries: Ronan O’Mahony 9; Ulster – Points: Ruan Pienaar 100; Tries: Jacob Stockdale 8
2016/17 TEAM FORM: Munster – Played 19, Won 16, Lost 3, 72 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), L 30-21 v Scarlets (home), W 23-13 v Cardiff Blues (away), W 50-14 v Zebre (away), W 10-7 v Glasgow Warriors (home); Ulster – Played 19, Won 13, Drew 1, Lost 5, 63 Points; W 29-8 v Newport Gwent Dragons (home), W 22-11 v Benetton Treviso (away), W 19-8 v Scarlets (home), W 22-17 v Glasgow Warriors (away), W 9-7 v Ospreys (home), L 30-25 v Connacht (away), L 15-14 v Munster (home), L 28-17 v Edinburgh (away), W 35-22 v Cardiff Blues (away), W 23-7 v Connacht (home), L 22-7 v Leinster (away), L 16-13 v Scarlets (away), W 24-18 v Edinburgh (home), W 37-17 v Glasgow Warriors (home), W 40-17 v Zebre (away), W 19-7 v Benetton Treviso (home), W 68-21 v Zebre (home), W 27-17 v Newport Gwent Dragons (away), D 24-24 v Cardiff Blues (home)
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Saturday, May 10, 2014 – Munster 17 Ulster 19, Thomond Park
Friday, November 28, 2014 – Munster 21 Ulster 20, Thomond Park
Saturday, May 9, 2015 – Ulster 23 Munster 23, Kingspan Stadium
Friday, October 30, 2015 – Munster 32 Ulster 28, Thomond Park
Saturday, January 2, 2016 – Ulster 7 Munster 9, Kingspan Stadium
Friday, October 28, 2016 – Ulster 14 Munster 15, Kingspan Stadium
MATCH FACTS:
– Munster’s only defeat in any competition since mid-December was 30-21 at home to the Scarlets in the GUINNESS PRO12 at the end of February
– The Munstermen have lost only that one game at Thomond Park in their last 14 matches since December 2015
– Munster have won their last three matches against fellow Irish provinces since tripping up to Leinster at the Aviva Stadium in October
– Ulster are unbeaten in their last seven PRO12 matches since their 16-13 reversal in Llanelli in round 13
– Ulster have won just one of their last five fixtures against fellow Irish provinces: 23-7 at home to Connacht in round 11
– Munster are unbeaten in their last five encounters with Ulster since the Ulstermen’s 19-17 victory at Thomond Park in May 2014
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