Top seeds Munster have lost just one Heineken Cup match at their Thomond Park fortress over the years, to Leicester Tigers in 2007. Can Ulster, in their second successive European quarter-final, upset the odds and beat their provincial rivals in Limerick?
HEINEKEN CUP QUARTER-FINAL: Sunday, April 8
MUNSTER v ULSTER, Thomond Park, 1.45pm (live Sky Sports 2/HD2/Newstalk/highlights TG4)
Team News: Conor Murray and Paul O’Connell have recovered from their respective knee injuries to be included in the Munster team to take on Ulster in Sunday’s Heineken Cup quarter-final at Thomond Park.
Fellow Ireland international Donnacha Ryan has also shaken off a shoulder problem to join O’Connell in the second row.
In making seven changes to the team that started against Leinster last weekend, Munster head coach Tony McGahan hands first Heineken Cup starts to hooker Mike Sherry and flanker Tommy O’Donnell.
Sherry has three Heineken Cup appearances off the bench to his credit all from last season, while O’Donnell’s only appearance at this level was when he replaced James Coughlan during Munster’s pool win over the Scarlets at Thomond Park back in December.
There are two changes in the backs division where Murray and Denis Hurley, who is also back from injury, come in for the benched Tomas O’Leary and Johne Murphy respectively.
Up front Wian du Preez starts his seventh consecutive Heineken Cup match at loosehead prop, and the fit-again Ryan and O’Connell resume in the second row.
In the back row, Peter O’Mahony switches from openside to blindside flanker and O’Donnell is preferred to David Wallace who will hope to have an impact off the bench.
Meanwhile, Ulster head coach Brian McLaughlin has named injury doubt Stephen Ferris in his starting line-up for the massive interprovincial derby against Munster.
The inclusion of Ferris, who missed last year’s quarter-final defeat to Northampton Saints, will come as a major boost to Ulster.
The Ireland flanker picked up an ankle injury against Aironi in last weekend’s RaboDirect PRO12 clash, but has received extensive treatment throughout the week to be passed fit.
Ulster have made just one change to the starting team that registered a 45-7 victory over the Italians at Ravenhill last Friday.
Dan Tuohy returns to partner captain Johann Muller in the second row, with Lewis Stevenson dropping back to the replacements bench.
Ireland internationals Tom Court and Rory Best form the front row with All Black John Afoa, while Chris Henry and Pedrie Wannenburg join Ferris in the back row once more.
The province’s back-line has a settled look about it with Ruan Pienaar and Ian Humphreys continuing at half back.
Paddy Wallace and Darren Cave have been looking dangerous in midfield and will thrive on the opportunity of quick ball on Sunday. Craig Gilroy adds youth to an experienced back-three alongside Stefan Terblanche and Andew Trimble.
The only other change to the matchday squad sees centre Nevin Spence included among the replacements at the expense of Ian Whitten.
MUNSTER: Felix Jones; Denis Hurley, Keith Earls, Lifeimi Mafi, Simon Zebo; Ronan O’Gara, Conor Murray; Wian du Preez, Mike Sherry, BJ Botha, Donnacha Ryan, Paul O’Connell (capt), Peter O’Mahony, Tommy O’Donnell, James Coughlan.
Replacements: Damien Varley, Marcus Horan, Stephen Archer, Donncha O’Callaghan, David Wallace, Tomas O’Leary, Ian Keatley, Johne Murphy.
ULSTER: Stefan Terblanche; Andrew Trimble, Darren Cave, Paddy Wallace, Craig Gilroy; Ian Humphreys, Ruan Pienaar; Tom Court, Rory Best, John Afoa, Johann Muller (capt), Dan Tuohy, Stephen Ferris, Chris Henry, Pedrie Wannenburg.
Replacements: Nigel Brady, Paddy McAllister, Adam Macklin, Lewis Stevenson, Willie Faloon, Paul Marshall, Nevin Spence, Adam D’Arcy.
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant Referees: Jerome Garces, Mathieu Raynal (both France)
Television Match Official: Giulio De Santis (Italy)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Munster to win: 4/11; Draw: 20/1; Ulster to win: 12/5
Pre-Match Quotes: Paul O’Connell (Munster) – “I’m in good shape. I’ve trained fully and feel fine. I don’t think the lay-off will pose any difficulties.
“Ideally, I would like to have played more games in the last few weeks but I had a good run up to that from the middle of the summer, so I have a good fitness base and wouldn’t be overly worried about it.
“I might even be better for the break and feel very good about it. When you get a break like that and can’t train and have to stay off the feet for a few weeks, it refreshes the body and I do feel good.
“If you keep reminding yourself, you could begin to think it’s been a long year but we have been well managed and I got away once or twice during the year with the family and so I feel very good and fresh. Most of the guys are the same, plenty of breaks, plenty of time off to refresh the body.
“Very little needs to be said to the lads in a week like this. Everyone knows how important it is playing at home here in Limerick, in Thomond Park, in a Heineken Cup quarter-final. It’s one of those weeks as captain where you actually have very little to do and very little to say.
“Guys have a big focus on their own jobs and when you have that from early on in the week it always gives you a nice feeling going into the game.
“Guys are well aware how tough a game it is going to be, how deep we’re going to have to dig to get a win and as a captain it’s nice to see that in the team from early on in the week, and not have to worry about anyone except yourself. You let everyone else worry about their jobs.”
Paddy Wallace (Ulster) – “No matter who you get in the knockout stages it will be tough and there can’t be many bigger asks than Munster away from him.
“There’s a massive mystique about Munster but that isn’t as big a factor for us as it perhaps is for French or English clubs. We know them well, we mix with their players and there’s that familiarity with them which other teams don’t have.
“Munster are coming in with a real edge after a league derby loss to Leinster. All teams have a pattern of play and Munster have a very good rugby identity.
“It’s like the current Welsh team. You know what they are going to do but it’s extremely difficult to stop. The Munster way has been very successful
“They will try to dominate the gain-line and if they can do that they will push the ball wide, play more expansive rugby and keep us on the back foot.
“The crowd there is also worth a few points and we expect a huge challenge from not just the team but their supporters. But the fact that we won (a league game there) three years ago gives the players involved on that day a lot of belief.
“”t was a huge goal to reach the quarter-finals and it was all new last season. Now two years on the bounce there is a bigger focus on making the next step.”
Current Form – Munster – (RaboDirect PRO12): Won 20-12 at home to the Newport Gwent Dragons; Won 23-12 away to Glasgow Warriors; Won 35-12 at home to the Scarlets; Won 18-13 away to the Cardiff Blues; Lost 29-14 away to Edinburgh; Lost 17-13 at home to the Ospreys; Won 18-6 at home to Aironi Rugby; Lost 24-19 away to Leinster; (Heineken Cup): Won 23-21 at home to Northampton Saints; Won 27-24 away to Castres Olympique; (RaboDirect PRO12): Won 34-17 at home to Edinburgh; Lost 19-13 away to the Ospreys; (Heineken Cup): Won 17-14 away to the Scarlets; Won 19-13 at home to the Scarlets; (RaboDirect PRO12): Won 24-9 at home to Connacht; Lost 33-17 away to Ulster; Won 29-11 at home to Benetton Treviso; (Heineken Cup): Won 26-10 at home to Castres Olympique; Won 51-36 away to Northampton Saints; (RaboDirect PRO12): Won 35-14 away to Benetton Treviso; Won 16-13 at home to the Cardiff Blues; Won 24-14 away to the Newport Gwent Dragons; Lost 21-17 away to Aironi Rugby; Won 20-16 away to Connacht; Lost 18-9 at home to Leinster
Ulster – (RaboDirect PRO12): Won 28-14 at home to Glasgow Warriors; Won 25-19 away to Aironi Rugby; Won 20-3 at home to the Cardiff Blues; Lost 32-14 away to the Ospreys; Lost 22-9 away to the Newport Gwent Dragons; Lost 23-12 at home to Benetton Treviso; Lost 24-17 away to the Scarlets; Won 22-3 at home to Connacht; (Heineken Cup): Won 16-11 at home to Clermont Auvergne; Lost 20-9 away to Leicester Tigers; (RaboDirect PRO12): Lost 17-9 away to Glasgow Warriors; Won 24-17 at home to the Scarlets; (Heineken Cup): Won 31-10 at home to Aironi Rugby; Won 46-20 away to Aironi Rugby; (RaboDirect PRO12): Lost 42-13 away to Leinster; Won 33-17 at home to Munster; Won 42-20 away to Edinburgh; (Heineken Cup): Won 41-7 at home to Leicester Tigers; Lost 19-15 away to Clermont Auvergne; (RaboDirect PRO12): Won 30-12 at home to the Newport Gwent Dragons; Lost 21-14 away to the Cardiff Blues; Won 15-14 at home to the Ospreys; Won 38-16 at home to Edinburgh; Won 27-23 away to Benetton Treviso; Won 45-7 at home to Aironi Rugby
Top Scorers – 2011/12 Heineken Cup: Munster – Points: Ronan O’Gara 91; Tries: Simon Zebo 3; Ulster – Points: Ian Humphreys 43; Tries: Andrew Trimble 4
Previous European Meetings: 0
Heineken Cup Records:
Munster –
2010/11: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
2009/10: Reached the semi-finals
2008/09: Reached the semi-finals
2007/08: Champions
2006/07: Reached the quarter-finals
2005/06: Champions
2004/05: Reached the quarter-finals
2003/04: Reached the semi-finals
2002/03: Reached the semi-finals
2001/02: Runners-up
2000/01: Reached the semi-finals
1999/00: Runners-up
1998/99: Reached the quarter-finals
1997/98: Failed to qualify from Pool D
1996/97: Failed to qualify from Pool D
1995/96: Failed to qualify from Pool D
Ulster –
2010/11: Reached the quarter-finals
2009/10: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
2008/09: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
2007/08: Failed to qualify from Pool 2
2006/07: Failed to qualify from Pool 5
2005/06: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
2004/05: Failed to qualify from Pool 6
2003/04: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
2002/03: Failed to qualify from Pool 6
2001/02: Failed to qualify from Pool 2
2000/01: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
1999/00: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
1998/99: Champions
1997/98: Failed to qualify from Pool B
1996/97: Failed to qualify from Pool C
1995/96: Failed to qualify from Pool B
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