GUINNESS PRO14 Preview: Munster v Scarlets

With runaway Conference A leaders Glasgow Warriors well clear at the top of the table, Munster head coach Johann van Graan is looking for his side to cement second place which would secure a home play-off for a semi-final spot.

GUINNESS PRO14: Saturday, March 24

MUNSTER (2nd, Con A) v SCARLETS (2nd, Con B), Thomond Park, 5.30pm (live Sky Sports Arena)

Team News: There are six changes to the Munster team beaten 12-6 by Edinburgh last weekend as Academy player Calvin Nash, Ian Keatley, Dave Kilcoyne, Rhys Marshall, John Ryan and Tommy O’Donnell all come into the starting XV.

JJ Hanrahan moves to full-back with Nash and Alex Wootton, who has recovered from a hip flexor injury, on either wing. Rory Scannell and Sam Arnold continue their centre partnership with James Hart joined in the half-backs by Ireland international Keatley.

Head coach Johann van Graan has made four changes to the pack, with a completely new front row of Kilcoyne, Marshall and Ryan getting the nod. Captain Billy Holland and Jean Kleyn keep their places in the second row, while Tipperary man O’Donnell joins Jack O’Donoghue and Robin Copeland in the back row.

Niall Scannell, who returns from a rib injury, James Cronin and Stephen Archer make up the front row cover with Gerbrandt Grobler and Dave O’Callaghan completing the forward replacements. Second row Jean Kleyn is following the return-to-play protocols after sustaining a concussion.

Stephen Fitzgerald and Dan Goggin provide the back-line reinforcements along with Academy scrum half Jack Stafford, who is set to make his home debut in the GUINNESS PRO14 having featured off the bench against Zebre earlier this season.

It has been confirmed that Grand Slam winner Keith Earls sustained knee ligament damage at Twickenham last Saturday and will not be available for approximately six weeks. That rules him out of next week’s Champions Cup quarter-final against Toulon. Simon Zebo is nursing a hamstring injury and misses the Scarlets game.

In a further setback for Munster, half-backs Tyler Bleyendaal and Duncan Williams have both been ruled out for the remainder of the season. Bleyendaal required surgery in a bid to rectify ongoing symptoms with his neck, while Williams underwent surgery after sustaining facial injuries during a training session last week.

Munster v Scarlets tickets are available online here, from the Munster Rugby Ticket Offices at Thomond Park and Irish Independent Park, or by calling 061 421103. Tickets from just €;7 (student & junior) with family packs (two adults and two children) are available for just €;40.

Meanwhile, versatile forward Tadhg Beirne will make his 50th appearance for the Scarlets at Thomond Park against Munster, his new employers next season. Both teams are lying seconds in their respective conferences.

Following the conclusion of the Six Nations campaign, Scarlets head coach Wayne Pivac has included a number of internationals in the starting XV with Wales centre Scott Williams named as captain for this repeat of last season’s Championship decider.
 
Steff Evans, Rhys Patchell and Aled Davies also return to the back-line alongside Paul Asquith, Tom Varndell and Tom Williams. Ryan Elias, Samson Lee, Aaron Shingler and James Davies return from Wales camp for the trip to Limerick, with Dylan Evans, Beirne and Will Boyde completing the set.

MUNSTER: JJ Hanrahan; Calvin Nash, Sam Arnold, Rory Scannell, Alex Wootton; Ian Keatley, James Hart; Dave Kilcoyne, Rhys Marshall, John Ryan, Jean Kleyn, Billy Holland (capt), Jack O’Donoghue, Tommy O’Donnell, Robin Copeland.

Replacements: Niall Scannell, James Cronin, Stephen Archer, Gerbrandt Grobler, Dave O’Callaghan, Jack Stafford, Stephen Fitzgerald, Dan Goggin.

SCARLETS: Tom Williams; Tom Varndell, Scott Williams (capt), Paul Asquith, Steff Evans; Rhys Patchell, Aled Davies; Dylan Evans, Ryan Elias, Samson Lee, Tadhg Beirne, David Bulbring, Aaron Shingler, James Davies, Will Boyde.
 
Replacements: Emyr Phillips, Phil Price, Werner Kruger, Lewis Rawlins, Josh Macleod, Jonathan Evans, Dan Jones, Steff Hughes.

Referee: Marius Mitrea (Italy)
Assistant Referees: Andrea Piardi, Manuel Bottino (both Italy)
Television Match Official: Matteo Liperini (Italy)

Match Odds (Paddy Power): Munster to win: 1/2; Draw: 14/1; Scarlets to win: 17/10

Pre-Match Quotes: Johann van Graan (Munster) – “The Scarlets are a fantastic team. I looked at them over the last week. They beat Munster the last two times they played quite convincingly. They are a brilliant broken-field side, and maybe their biggest threat is at the breakdown.

“Tadhg Beirne, who is coming to Munster next year, is by a long way in my opinion, possibly the best forward if not in the PRO14 but maybe in Europe this year. By a long way he’s got the most breakdown steals, the broken field ball-carrying, his lineout ability – he is a fantastic player.

“It’s a massive challenge. That’s the beauty of rugby, every week is different. You can plan all you want but at certain stages you get thrown a curve ball or two. You’ve just got to adapt, that’s why we need to use the squad. If guys aren’t available (through injury or otherwise) you’ve just got to pick the next guy, and they’ve got to produce.”

Wayne Pivac (Scarlets) – “We’re integrating some of the internationals back into the squad. Last season some guys came back the first week, some the second. It’s slightly different this time around being alive in both competitions, it’s a little bit of a juggling act. We’ve got an eye on next week in terms of the preparation so it’s been an interesting exercise.
 
“The focus this week has been getting everyone back and the integration process. It’s about getting our selection and our preparation right, rather than concentrating on Munster.
 
“It’s the first time we’ve been alive in both competition in a long time – it’s slightly different focus from the same time last year. We’re keeping an eye on two competitions, it’s going to be interesting to see how the boys will manage the extra pressure – a challenge I know they’re looking forward to. We’re looking forward to Saturday and hopefully we’ll be able to keep the pressure on Leinster.”

Top Scorers – 2017/18 GUINNESS PRO14: Munster – Points: Ian Keatley 85; Tries: Alex Wootton 7; Scarlets – Points: Dan Jones 84; Tries: Johnny McNicholl 6

2017/18 TEAM FORM: Munster – Played 17, Won 10, Lost 7, 54 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), L 20-16 v Connacht (away), W 49-6 v Dragons (home), W 36-19 v Zebre (away), W 36-10 v Ospreys (home), L 34-24 v Leinster (home), L 24-17 v Ulster (away), W 39-13 v Connacht (home), W 33-5 v Zebre (home), L 25-18 v Cardiff Blues (away), W 21-10 v Glasgow Warriors (home), L 12-6 v Edinburgh (away); Scarlets – Played 17, Won 12, Drew 1, Lost 4, 61 Points; W 57-10 v Southern Kings (home), W 41-10 v Zebre (away), L 27-20 v Ulster (away), W 28-8 v Edinburgh (home), W 36-27 v Connacht (home), W 19-18 v Ospreys (away), W 30-17 v Cardiff Blues (home), W 20-8 v Benetton Rugby (home), W 34-30 v Southern Kings (away), L 28-21 v Toyota Cheetahs (away), W 12-9 v Ospreys (home), W 14-11 v Cardiff Blues (away), W 47-13 v Dragons (home), L 22-12 v Benetton Rugby (away), L 20-13 v Leinster (away), W 34-10 v Ulster (home), D 10-10 v Leinster (home)

RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:

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
Friday, February 24, 2017 – Munster 21 Scarlets 30, Thomond Park
Saturday, May 27, 2017 – Final – Munster 22 Scarlets 46, Aviva Stadium

MATCH FACTS:

– Munster’s last eight matches in all competitions have all been won by the home side on the day, while their only home defeat since February 2017 was to Leinster in the GUINNESS PRO14 on St Stephen’s Day last year

– The Scarlets’ only victory in the last four rounds of the PRO14 was 34-10 at home to Ulster on February 24

– The Scarlets have not won away from home in the Championship since a trip to Cardiff Blues on New Year’s Eve

– The two sides have not met since last season’s PRO12 final in Dublin, with the Scarlets taking the spoils on that occasion 46-22

– The Scarlets won on their most recent visit to Thomond Park in February 2017, something they had not done at the venue since September 2003