Return of URC to Thomond Park
AFTER three defeats on the trot, 12th placed Munster will be hoping to stop the rot when they entertain the Emirates Lions in the URC at Thomond Park on Saturday (kick-off 7.35pm).
The squad have certainly put in a serious amount of preparation over the past few weeks and with Stade Francais due to visit headquarters in the Champions Cup the following weekend, Munster’s season could well be hanging on a thread before they entertain Leinster post-Christmas.
The Reds will also be hoping that newly signed props, Young Munster’s 29-year-old Conor Bartley and loose head Dian Bleuler (25) of Sharks will pay dividends.
After their emphatic win over Fiji last weekend, Ireland will be full of confidence when they take on Australia in the Aviva earlier in the day.
A home win would certainly be a fitting finish to the four friendlies for Andy Farrell who hands over the reins to Simon Easterby at the final whistle.
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Even allowing for the weakness of the Fijis, there were many outstanding performances in the green jerseys, particularly from scrum-half Craig Casey.
The Shannon man marked a personal tally of a try and a conversion as well as an assist. He certainly should have been declared the man of the match.
Australia are sure to provide stiffer opposition but their defeat by Scotland has spoilt any chance of a grand slam.
It will be interesting to see if Farrell starts Sam Prendergast instead of Jack Crowley and if Casey retains his starting place ahead of Jamison Gibson-Park.
Whatever, an Ireland win is on the cards.
Back at Munster, there appears to be a healthy block of emerging talent in the Academy at present and the A team put up an impressive show at the weekend, going down away to Leinster by a narrow margin.
The saying that ‘the apple never falls far from the tree’ is becoming obvious with names like Gordon Wood, Evan O’Connell, Jack Oliver, and Danny Sheehan showing promise.
Watch out too for full-back Ben O’Connor who starred with PBC throughout his school days, Rockwell’s Brian Glesson and Oisín Pepper of St Munchin’s College.
