This all-Conference A clash at the Sportsground is a good chance for both Connacht and Munster to build momentum in the GUINNESS PRO14 after strong European fortnights.
GUINNESS PRO14: Friday, October 27
CONNACHT (6th, Con A) v MUNSTER (2nd, Con A), the Sportsground, 7.35pm (live TG4)
Team News: Connacht head coach Kieran Keane has named his starting XV for tonight’s eagerly-awaited interprovincial clash with Munster at the Sportsground.
John Muldoon returns to captain the side with Kieran Marmion, Ultan Dillane, Finlay Bealham, Tom McCartney, Tom Farrell, Jarrad Butler and Cian Kelleher also coming into the starting team.
Tiernan O’Halloran starts at full-back with Darragh Leader and Kelleher on the two flanks. Farrell joins Bundee Aki in the centre as Marmion and Jack Carty form the half-back partnership.
Bealham, McCartney and Denis Buckley make up the front row with Dillane and James Cannon in the second row. Muldoon’s return sees him wear the number 8 jersey with Eoin McKeon in at blindside and Butler at openside.
Niyi Adeolokun, who underwent knee surgery at the end of last season, is named in the matchday 23 for the first time this season following two outings with Connacht Eagles in the British & Irish Cup.
Speaking ahead of the GUINNESS PRO14 derby, Keane said: “There has been constant improvement from the lads, which has been refreshing for us. It has become pretty clear to me these local derbies are really important to the players, and they have been putting their hands up because they really want to play, so it brings excitement. I am excited by the occasion as much as they are.”
Due to the very high demand for Connacht v Munster tickets, additional terracing is being installed at the Sportsground to cater for the increased capacity.
Meanwhile, Munster director of rugby Rassie Erasmus has named his team to face Connacht in Galway, with three changes made to the side that defeated Racing 92 in the Champions Cup.
In the front five, John Ryan and Mark Flanagan are promoted from the bench this week, with Ryan joining Dave Kilcoyne, the man-of-the-match against Racing, and Rhys Marshall in the front row as loan signing Flanagan links up with Billy Holland in the engine room once again.
The international back row trio of captain Peter O’Mahony, who is four games away from becoming a Munster centurion, Tommy O’Donnell and CJ Stander complete the pack.
The half-back pairing of Conor Murray and Ian Keatley remains intact, with Tyler Bleyendaal still nursing a neck injury, and the only change to the back-line is a straight swap with Andrew Conway taking over from Darren Sweetnam on the right wing, joining Keith Earls and Simon Zebo in the back-three.
Regarding ongoing injuries, hooker Niall Scannell underwent surgery on Monday for the thumb injury he sustained against Castres Olympique, while Bleyendaal, who was injured in the same game, is continuing to be managed for a neck injury this week.
CONNACHT: Tiernan O’Halloran; Darragh Leader, Bundee Aki, Tom Farrell, Cian Kelleher; Jack Carty, Kieran Marmion; Denis Buckley, Tom McCartney, Finlay Bealham, Ultan Dillane, James Cannon, Eoin McKeon, Jarrad Butler, John Muldoon (capt).
Replacements: Dave Heffernan, Denis Coulson, Conor Carey, Quinn Roux, Eoghan Masterson, Caolin Blade, Craig Ronaldson, Niyi Adeolokun.
MUNSTER: Simon Zebo; Andrew Conway, Chris Farrell, Rory Scannell, Keith Earls; Ian Keatley, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Rhys Marshall, John Ryan, Mark Flanagan, Billy Holland, Peter O’Mahony (capt), Tommy O’Donnell, CJ Stander.
Replacements: Kevin O’Byrne, Liam O’Connor, Stephen Archer, Sean McCarthy, Jack O’Donoghue, Duncan Williams, JJ Hanrahan, Darren Sweetnam.
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant Referees: David Wilkinson, Frank Murphy (both Ireland)
Television Match Official: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Connacht to win: 17/10; Draw: 16/1; Munster to win: 8/15
Pre-Match Quotes: John Muldoon (Connacht) – “It’s back to basics this week and it doesn’t get any harder than Munster but we will regroup and it’s back into PRO14 mentality. It’s been a tough start to the season. A couple of results in the last few weeks went our way. Up to that, we didn’t deserve to win the games we lost but we were improving each week and that was the main thing from the team’s point of view.
“We need to get a couple of wins in the league to get us up the table and keep us competitive. You don’t want to give yourselves too much to do. Hopefully we haven’t done that already, and we have two home games now so it would be great to get a win or two.
“Neither team will be easy. Munster are going very well and the Cheetahs have surprised a lot of people who don’t know them and haven’t watched Super Rugby. They are quality and will have a lot of lads coming back in with the Currie Cup coming to an end. They will be able to bolster their squad. It won’t get easier but we have to focus on Munster and try and do a good job there.
“Looking at some of their videos, Munster are trying to up their pace this season as well. Especially against the French and bigger teams in general, you have to up the pace and keep the ball in play as often as possible.
“That was a tactic that we used well against Oyonnax and Worcester. We wanted to move them around the park and try and get them out of their comfort zone. But Connacht and Munster have a great degree of knowledge of each other, we won’t be running them off their feet.
“They won’t have any fitness issues. That was something we tried to do in the last two games. But it’s a new game and a new physical challenge for us. We will both be trying to add tempo.
“Derbies are particularly special for everyone because we all know each other so well. There are players on both sides who have played with and against each other for years. The reality is when you’re playing against your friends, there is always that something extra out there.”
Conor Murray (Munster) – “We would have seen a bit (of them) and noticeably their defence seems to be stronger, seems to be a lot tighter and more organised so Connacht with the ball are always a handful and they like to keep hold of the ball.
“They have players if we’re any way slack in the defence or any way tired, they have guys like Bundee Aki and Tiernan (O’Halloran) who will cut you apart. That attack threat is always there for them but I think their defence is definitely gone up a notch from last year.
“So, with a new coach, you have to change the analysis and look for new threats. It will be interesting and I’m looking forward to it. We just want to keep building, we’ve been building from the start of the season integrating players into the squad and I think we’re getting a few things together.
“We’ve realised that there were things, a few little issues for the last while and we’ve tried to iron them out. Our discipline was a little bit better (against Racing) last week. It can always get better. I think once we look after that, the rest of our game is definitely coming along and is going well.”
Top Scorers – 2017/18 GUINNESS PRO14: Connacht – Points: Jack Carty 42; Tries: Darragh Leader, Tiernan O’Halloran 2 each; Munster – Points: Ian Keatley 32; Tries: Alex Wootton 5
2017/18 TEAM FORM: Connacht – Played 6, Won 1, Lost 5, 8 Points; L 18-12 v Glasgow Warriors (home), W 32-10 v Southern Kings (home), L 21-8 v Dragons (away), L 17-15 v Cardiff Blues (home), L 36-27 v Scarlets (away), L 16-8 v Ulster (away); Munster – Played 6, Won 4, Lost 2, 20 Points; W 34-3 v Benetton Rugby (home), W 51-18 v Toyota Cheetahs (home), W 21-16 v Ospreys (away), L 37-10 v Glasgow Warriors (away), W 39-16 v Cardiff Blues (home), L 23-17 v Leinster (away)
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Thursday, January 1, 2015 – Connacht 24 Munster 16, the Sportsground
Saturday, March 28, 2015 – Munster 42 Connacht 20, Thomond Park
Saturday, November 28, 2015 – Munster 12 Connacht 18, Thomond Park
Saturday, April 16, 2016 – Connacht 35 Munster 14, the Sportsground
Saturday, December 31, 2016 – Connacht 9 Munster 16, the Sportsground
Saturday, May 6, 2017 – Munster 50 Connacht 14, Thomond Park
MATCH FACTS:
– Connacht have won both of their matches in the Challenge Cup over the last two weeks, but in the GUINNESS PRO14 their only victory was 32-10 at home to the Southern Kings in round 2
– Connacht have lost their last six encounters with fellow Irish provinces since beating Ulster in Galway last October
– Munster are unbeaten after the first two rounds of Champions Cup play, however, in the PRO14 they have lost two of their last three matches
– The Munstermen’s most recent away success in any competition was 21-16 at the Ospreys on September 16
– Munster’s only previous fixture with an Irish province this season was a 23-17 reversal to Leinster at the Aviva Stadium in round 6
– Munster achieved a season’s double over Connacht last year, reversing the trend of the 2015/16 campaign
– The last six meetings between the two provinces have been evenly split with three wins apiece
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