Munster are back in Italy for the second week running, bidding to keep up their winning form against a Zebre side that has already beaten Edinburgh, Cardiff Blues and Benetton Treviso in this season’s GUINNESS PRO12.
GUINNESS PRO12: Saturday, January 30
ZEBRE (10th) v MUNSTER (5th), Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, 3pm local time/2pm Irish time (live TG4/Rai Sport)
Team News: Munster head coach Anthony Foley has named his team for Saturday’s GUINNESS PRO12 encounter with Zebre at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi.
There are eight changes to the side that defeated Benetton Treviso in the Champions Cup last weekend, with Darren Sweetnam set to make his first competitive start.
Following his inclusion in the Ireland RBS 6 Nations squad, James Cronin has been made available to the province this weekend and returns to the starting line-up at loosehead prop. Niall Scannell comes in at hooker, while John Ryan continues to fill the tighthead berth.
Mark Chisholm resumes his partnership with Dave Foley in the second row, and in the back row Jack O’Donoghue and Robin Copeland come in to join blindside flanker Billy Holland. Having just signed a new two-year deal with Munster, Holland will also captain the province in Italy.
The first of three changes across the back-line comes at scrum half with Tomas O’Leary partnering Ian Keatley in the half-backs. Elsewhere, Andrew Conway has recovered from a hip-pointer to start at full-back and following a run of strong performances for Munster ‘A’ in this season’s British & Irish Cup, Sweetnam will make his first PRO12 start on the right wing.
There is no change on the opposite flank with last weekend’s man of the match Ronan O’Mahony staying put, and Rory Scannell and Francis Saili again take charge of the midfield.
Dave O’Callaghan makes a return to the matchday squad, among the replacements, after successfully rehabbing an adductor injury.
Meanwhile, Zebre boss Gianluca Guidi has made six personnel changes to the side that lost 14-11 to Gloucester in the European Challenge Cup last Saturday.
Guidi is missing 12 of the 13 Zebre players who were included in Italy’s injury-hit squad ahead of the start of the RBS 6 Nations. Out-half Kelly Haimona, who has been recalled by the Azzurri, is released to start against the Munstermen.
Haimona and Luke Burgess come in at half-back with winger Michele Visentin and flanker Emiliano Caffini – both graduates of the Italian National Academy – set for their first starts of the season.
With a number of their forwards also away in Italy camp, the Parma-based club have selected South African recruits Gideon Koegelenberg and Johan Meyer in the second row and back row respectively, with ex-Cheetahs and Bulls player Jean Cook moving to number 8.
Former All Black and Connacht full-back Mils Muliaina could make his third PRO12 appearance for Zebre off the bench. He also played in their back-to-back Challenge Cup games against La Rochelle last month.
ZEBRE: Kayle van Zyl; Dion Berryman, Tommaso Boni, Matteo Pratichetti, Michele Visentin; Kelly Haimona, Luke Burgess; Andrea de Marchi, Oliviero Fabiani, Pietro Ceccarelli, Gideon Koegelenberg, Marco Bortolami (capt), Eimiliano Caffini, Johan Meyer, Jean Cook.
Replacements: Emiliano Coria, Bruno Postiglioni, Guillermo Roan, Federico Ruzza, Filippo Cristiano, Giulio Toniolatti, Mils Muliaina, Ulrich Beyers.
MUNSTER: Andrew Conway; Darren Sweetnam, Francis Saili, Rory Scannell, Ronan O’Mahony; Ian Keatley, Tomas O’Leary; James Cronin, Niall Scannell, John Ryan, Dave Foley, Mark Chisholm, Billy Holland (capt), Jack O’Donoghue, Robin Copeland.
Replacements: Mike Sherry, Dave Kilcoyne, Mario Sagario, Dave O’Callaghan, Shane Buckley, Duncan Williams, Cian Bohane, Gerhard van den Heever.
Referee: Dudley Phillips (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Elia Rizzo, Filippo Bertelli (both Italy)
Television Match Official: Alan Falzone (Italy)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Zebre to win: 11/4; Draw: 18/1; Munster to win: 3/10
Pre-Match Quotes: Ian Costello (Munster) – “It will be interesting to see how many of their players will not be released from Italy camp and I’m sure they are wondering the same about us.
“Zebre are a very physical side and have some key players in key positions who are involved with Italy and both sides’ strength in depth will be tested in the coming weeks. Last year we did particularly well at this time where we tested our squad depth and recently we’ve had a number of testing ‘A’ games so the guys that need to step up are now rugby ready, fresh and set to go.
“We are taking the rest of the season step by step and the sole focus this weekend is to end this current block of games on a high by putting in a good performance and hopefully getting the win. That would build more confidence and momentum going forward.”
Jack O’Donoghue (Munster) – “Zebre play a great brand of heads-up rugby at times. Any gap they get they tend to take it so we need to be switched on for the full 80 and can’t afford any lapses in concentration.
“They are the in-form Italian side at the moment and are really pushing for the Italian Champions Cup spot. They had an excellent Challenge Cup campaign with back-to-back wins over Worcester and they were unlucky to lose to Gloucester so they will be really hard to beat.
“We’ll have to come at them up front, and out the back make sure that passes stick and be more clinical.”
Top Scorers – 2015/16 GUINNESS PRO12: Zebre – Points: Carlo Canna 47; Tries: Dries van Schalkwyk 4; Munster – Points: Ian Keatley 84; Tries: CJ Stander, Andrew Conway 3 each
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Friday, October 26, 2012 – Munster 29 Zebre 3, Thomond Park
Friday, May 3, 2013 – Zebre 25 Munster 27, Stadio XXV Aprile
Friday, September 13, 2013 – Zebre 21 Munster 43, Stadio XXV Aprile
Saturday, February 15, 2014 – Munster 36 Zebre 8, Musgrave Park
Friday, September 19, 2014 – Munster 31 Zebre 5, Thomond Park
Saturday, January 10, 2015 – Zebre 7 Munster 31, Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi
MATCH FACTS:
– Zebre’s four-match winning run in all tournaments came to an end with their 14-11 reversal at home to Gloucester in the European Challenge Cup (the two sides had been drawing 11-all with only six minutes left)
– Zebre won the back-to-back fixtures against Benetton Treviso over the holiday period but have never won three GUINNESS PRO12 matches in succession
– Munster’s only loss in their last four matches was 27-7 at Stade Francais in the Champions Cup on January 9
– The Munstermen have won their last nine fixtures against Italian opponents in all tournaments
– The two sides have met on six previous occasions with Munster winning all six (five with a bonus point) and Zebre gaining just one losing bonus point (in Parma in May 2013)
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