MAGNERS LEAGUE Connacht v Munster:THERE IS a certain irony about the opposing fullbacks on show this evening in Galway. Ian Keatley has confirmed his switch to Munster next season as Paul Warwick moves to Stade Francais.
Until recently Keatley was considered a specialist number 10, and nothing more but the lack of depth available to Eric Elwood in Connacht tends to force experimentation.
Keatley, being a decent player first and foremost, was tried at outside centre when Niva Ta’auso got injured. They already knew about his handling ability, but the sign of him opening his stride in the wide channels raised a few eyebrows.
Sure enough, with Gavin Duffy struggling for fitness and Ta’auso back from a fractured cheekbone, Keatley is redeployed to number 15 where his kicking arsenal can also be deployed.
All of a sudden he is looking a very smart acquisition by Munster coach Tony McGahan.
But Connacht know this. They are also aware the usual contributions from Keatley and fellow men in the departures lounge, Fionn Carr and Seán Cronin, can deliver a much-needed victory here.
The feel-good factor and confidence burst that Elwood delivered upon taking up the reigns last summer has faded, with seven consecutive defeats – five in the Magners League and two against Harlequins that curtailed their interest in the Amlin Challenge Cup at the pool stages. Their last win was against Samoa in November.
Elwood has repeatedly spoken of the Magners League being the priority this season, but the run of injuries and poor form has seen them plummet to 11th in the table which is essentially bottom as Aironi, a further 12 points adrift, were clearly not equipped to enter the competition this season.
As it stands, Connacht will not qualify for the Heineken Cup and, anyway, the player exodus will severely weaken them come next season.
There are pockets of good news, with Ezra Taylor’s selection at number eight, after a stuttering introduction to his Connacht career due to injury, somewhat off-setting the broken arm of captain John Muldoon.
Muldoon’s leadership and desire to play for his province is irreplaceable, but Taylor looks capable of carrying ball. He must take them over the gainline.
The same remit applies to Cronin so Johnny O’Connor and company can wade in behind them.
If that happens, this largely shadow Munster line-up will struggle.
Granted, many of these men in red were part of the famous scalping of the Wallabies last month.
It will be very interesting to see if Ian Nagle can enhance his reputation as a lineout expert or if Paddy Butler really is a developing version of Denis Leamy as he seemed to show for the Irish under-20s.
Alan Quinlan’s presence beside these young prospects will comfort the Munster faithful.
Perhaps the most interesting selection, and signing, however, is that of Munster tighthead prop Peter Borlase. Now settled in Cork, having been a late arrival due to his commitments to Canterbury only to be dropped into the warzone against Australia, Borlase is a self-described “project” for Irish rugby.
The manner in which the Ospreys damaged the Munster scrum was impossible to miss, so Borlase needs to show he can solidify matters the way BJ Botha has done with Ulster.
It should also be said that Borlase is only 25 and will be an Irishman by the time he is 28 (well, depending on performances). A seriously physical specimen, the Kiwi’s task here is to dismantle Rob Sweeney in the scrums. Sweeney earned a Connacht contract this summer based on performances for St Mary’s in the All Ireland League.
There was a big thaw in Galway yesterday morning and the bales of straw have been removed from the Sportsground surface, but the weather should still put a huge emphasis on set-piece returns. If Munster can make an impact via Nagle and Borlase, then the young halfback partnership of Peter Stringer and Ronan O’Gara can be trusted to do the rest.
With their New Year’s Day visit to Dublin up next, Elwood and the Connacht players desperately need this win. On that premise, they should have enough to put a dint in the league leaders’ progress.
But they require a large dollop of good fortune. God knows they deserve it.
CONNACHT: I Keatley; D Fanning, N Ta'auso, K Matthews (capt), F Carr; M Nikora, C Willis; R Sweeney, S Cronin, J Hagan; M Swift, M McCarthy; A Browne, J O'Connor, E Taylor. Replacements: A Flavin, B Fa'amausili, D Rogers, B Upton, M McComish, F Murphy, T Nathan, B Tuohy.
MUNSTER: P Warwick; B Murphy, T Gleeson, L Mafi, D Hurley; R OGara (capt), P Stringer; W du Preez, M Sherry, P Borlase; D Ryan, I Nagle; A Quinlan, N Ronan, P Butler. Replacements: S Henry, Dave Ryan, J Hayes; B Holland, T ODonnell, C Murray, J Murphy, S Deasy.
Venue: The Sportsground Kick-off: 6.10pm today On TV: Live TG4
Referee: David Wilkinson(IRFU).
Handicap betting: Connacht (+4) 10/11, Munster (-4) 10/11.
Verdict: home win.
