With Glasgow Warriors drawing with the Dragons last night, Munster have an opportunity to eat into the Scots’ lead at the top of Conference A when they host bottom side Zebre at Thomond Park.
GUINNESS PRO14: Saturday, February 10
MUNSTER (2nd, Con A) v ZEBRE (7th, Con A), Thomond Park, 7.35pm (live TG4)
Team News: The Munster team to face Zebre at Thomond Park in tonight’s GUINNESS PRO14 fixture has been named by head coach Johann van Graan.
There are 12 changes to the side that overcame Castres Olympique 48-3 in the Champions Cup last time out, with captain Billy Holland retained in the second row along with Simon Zebo and Jean Kleyn.
Scrum half Duncan Williams makes his 150th Munster appearance and is partnered at half-back by JJ Hanrahan. Seventeen of the 23-man squad are products of the Munster system with all but two of the squad Irish-qualified.
The back three is made up of Zebo, Darren Sweetnam and Alex Wootton, the province’s top try scorer so far this season with seven tries. Dan Goggin comes in for his first start of the season after recovering from a knee injury, and Sam Arnold is also back for his first appearance since New Year’s Day.
James Cronin returns from international duty to start at loosehead prop with Niall Scannell at hooker and Brian Scott the starting tighthead. Skipper Holland is named in the second row alongside Kleyn, while Jack O’Donoghue, who has been training with the Ireland squad this week, Conor Oliver and Robin Copeland make up the back row.
John Ryan is named among the replacements having helped Ireland to a dramatic win over France last Saturday, and Ian Keatley and Rory Scannell, who were also part of the extended Ireland squad for the opening two rounds of the Six Nations, are also back on provincial duty.
Gerbrandt Grobler and John Poland are both in line to make their GUINNESS PRO14 debuts off the bench with Kevin O’Byrne, Jeremy Loughman and Dave O’Callaghan completing the bench options. O’Callaghan features in a Munster matchday squad for the first time this season having recovered from a knee injury sustained last April.
Meanwhile, Zebre head coach Michael Bradley has three players released from Italy’s Six Nations camp in his starting XV – centre Giulio Bisegni, lock and captain George Biagi and flanker Renato Giammarioli. The latter two both saw action against England in Rome last Sunday.
Two former Connacht players will line out for the Italians in Limerick, starting full-back Ciaran Gaffney (a former Ireland Under-20 international) and Rory Parata, who has signed for Zebre until the end of the season, is included on the bench.
It will be a special night for scrum half Guglielmo Palazzani who becomes only the second player to reach 100 caps for Zebre, behind prop Andrea de Marchi (106). Palazzani, winger Giovanbattista Venditti and hooker Tommaso d’Apice are three key figures for Bradley’s charges, with 78 international caps between them.
New Zealander Jimmy Tuivati, who packs down at number 8, is a permit player who will be making his PRO14 debut. The former North Harbour forward won the Italian league title with Rugby Calvisano last May. Zebre are missing four players due to injury, while they have nine men involved with the Italy squad in Ireland this week.
MUNSTER: Simon Zebo; Darren Sweetnam, Sam Arnold, Dan Goggin, Alex Wootton; JJ Hanrahan, Duncan Williams; James Cronin, Niall Scannell, Brian Scott, Jean Kleyn, Billy Holland (capt), Jack O’Donoghue, Conor Oliver, Robin Copeland.
Replacements: Kevin O’Byrne, Jeremy Loughman, John Ryan, Gerbrandt Grobler, Dave O’Callaghan, John Poland, Ian Keatley, Rory Scannell.
ZEBRE: Ciaran Gaffney; Gabriele di Giulio, Giulio Bisegni, Faialaga Afamasaga, Giovanbattista Venditti; Serafin Bordoli, Guglielmo Palazzani; Cruze Ah-Nau, Tommaso d’Apice, Eduardo Bello, David Sisi, George Biagi (capt), Renato Giammarioli, Johan Meyer, Jimmy Tuivati.
Replacements: Luhandre Luus, Andrea de Marchi, Roberto Tenga, Leonard Krumow, Derick Minnie, Riccardo Raffaele, Maicol Azzolini, Rory Parata.
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Craig Evans (Wales), Jonny Erskine (Ireland)
Television Match Official: Sean Brickell (Wales)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Munster to win: 1/80; Draw: 80/1; Zebre to win: 25/1
Pre-Match Quotes: Johann van Graan (Munster) – “I’m very glad that (the first nine-week block) is finished! We came through it well, sitting pretty well in PRO14 in second spot and having a home (Champions Cup) quarter-final against Toulon.
“We, as coaches, had an in-depth look at our game. A lot of errors that we want to improve – there is never a finish line. We want to improve every single week and we are looking to build on our current plan. We have a very excited squad, we had a very good week of training last week, and all of the guys in the squad are looking forward to the next block of four games.
“We had a two week break from games, and we are obviously fine-tuning our plan, but it’s game week again and we are looking forward to it. It was my first game when I arrived in Ireland – the away game to Zebre (in November). If you just look at Italian rugby, they haven’t quite got the results but they’re playing some good rugby. We’ve had a good look at them, their continuity game, they attack from all parts of the field, so defensively we will have to be at our best to keep them out.
“It’s fantastic to have the four players signed up (with new contracts). Dan (Goggin) has been unbelievable in training and really impressed me – a big, strong guy. It looks like he’s come back stronger. I’m very glad for Sammy (Arnold) to be part of our set-up.
“Darren O’Shea – as a lineout caller he is going to be very important to Munster in the coming years. Conor Oliver has played one game since I’ve been here (due to injury) and he was man-of-the-match against Connacht so I’m really glad that these guys have committed to Munster.”
Duncan Williams (Munster) – “I didn’t realise it until this week – I knew it was in and around 150, but it will be good to get it. Not many people have, so it’s a good accomplishment.
“I remember watching him (Zebre head coach Michael Bradley) at school. I think it was fifth year and we were going to the Irish schoolboys. The scrum halves were from Cork, myself and Dave O’Leary, and we were both Con men. He came down and did a few sessions with us.
“I think he has done a good job with Zebre. They have come on in leaps and bounds and are a very attack-minded team now and play very entertaining rugby. They have got more points already than they had at the end of the previous seasons. It’s obviously a work in progress, and I think Michael is doing a good job and there’s no better man for it.”
Top Scorers – 2017/18 GUINNESS PRO14: Munster – Points: Ian Keatley 74; Tries: Alex Wootton 7; Zebre – Points: Carlo Canna 89; Tries: Mattia Bellini 5
2017/18 TEAM FORM: Munster – Played 13, Won 8, Lost 5, 43 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); Zebre – Played 13, Won 3, Lost 10, 17 Points; L 22-12 v Ospreys (away), L 41-10 v Scarlets (home), L 54-39 v Toyota Cheetahs (away), W 43-17 v Southern Kings (away), W 27-23 v Ulster (home), L 16-15 v Edinburgh (away), L 24-23 v Toyota Cheetahs (home), L 37-8 v Cardiff Blues (away), L 36-19 v Munster (home), W 24-10 v Connacht (home), L 27-14 v Benetton Rugby (away), L 20-16 v Benetton Rugby (home), L 40-20 v Glasgow Warriors (home)
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Saturday, January 10, 2015 – Zebre 7 Munster 31, Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi
Saturday, January 30, 2016 – Zebre 12 Munster 16, Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi
Friday, March 25, 2016 – Munster 47 Zebre 0, Thomond Park
Saturday, October 1, 2016 – Munster 49 Zebre 5, Thomond Park
Saturday, March 25, 2017 – Zebre 14 Munster 50, Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi
Sunday, November 26, 2017 – Zebre 19 Munster 36, Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi
MATCH FACTS:
– Munster have lost twice in the last six rounds of the GUINNESS PRO14, at home to Leinster on St. Stephen’s Day and away to Ulster on New Year’s Day
– The Munstermen have lost only once in their last fifteen home games in all competitions, 34-24 to Leinster on December 26
– Munster have not lost to Italian opponents since they visited Treviso in September 2013
– Zebre won their most recent encounter, 38-30, at home to Agen in round 6 of the Challenge Cup, but have not been victorious in the PRO14 since Connacht visited Parma on December 2
– Zebre have lost on all 23 previous visits to an Irish province in all competitions. The two sides have met on 11 previous occasions with Munster winning them all
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