European Cup: Having reached the semi-finals of the last four tournaments of the Heineken European Cup, Munster will perhaps harbour more expectations than any of the other Irish teams in this year's competition.
With the 2000 and 2002 final defeats to spur them towards reaching one notch higher, as Ulster have done, Alan Gaffney will also realise this first trip of the campaign, to Bourgoin on Saturday, will be a tough workout.
Once again injury to Anthony Horgan's hamstring has kept him out of the match and Shaun Payne holds on to one wing position and with John Kelly returning to the other flank, having missed last week's 31-10 Celtic League win against Cardiff. Mossie Lawlor reverts to the replacements.
The good news is that Gaffney's starting side, apart for the addition of Kelly, is the same as last week and the hope is that they can generate some continuity following on from last week's strong performance.
Jeremy Staunton reverts to full back having played at outhalf when Ronan O'Gara was in Australia, with O'Gara again partnered by Peter Stringer at scrumhalf. The pack that so demolished Cardiff remains intact with Jim Williams again captaining from the back row.
There is also positive progress with regard to Irish and Lions centre Rob Henderson.
His continuing recovery from a torn bicep is enough to earn him a place on the bench along side Scottish international prop Gordon McIlwham.
Gaffney has included an AN Other among the replacements with a decision to be later made between David Pusey and Eddie Halvey. Both players will travel to France.
According to Bourgoin officials, there was heavy rain in the area yesterday but none is forecast from today until the match on Saturday evening and they are satisfied that the game will not be affected.
"I don't imagine anyone is under any illusion about the enormity of the task that lies ahead of us. Bourgoin may not conjure up the same images as say Toulouse, Biarritz or Stade (Francais) but make no mistake they are a very good side," said Gaffney.
"They've have had the benefit of having almost their entire squad available in the World Cup period - only Seabastien Chabal and Olivier Milloud were in Australia - and they've strung together some pretty impressive performances. They've a big pack with plenty of pace in the backs."
As Gaffney says, Bourgoin are seen as being a team with a strong pack and therefore are likely to be forward orientated with powerful setpieces. They are expected to play with a similar style to last year's European Cup finalists Perpignan against what may be a Munster side with some rust to work out. The international players have played just once together since returning from the World Cup.
"Whatever about their (Bourgoin) performances so far I think it's worth remembering that they were desperately unlucky not to make the quarter-final last year. They ended up on eight points, same as ourselves, and put 54 points on Llanelli and 43 points on Sale at home," said Gaffney.
In Ulster, Alan Solomons has received good news with regard to his international front-row Robbie Kempson, who was cited after Ulster's game against The Borders last Friday in Ravenhill. The Scottish side have withdrawn their citation against the Springbok and Kempson, who was named in the original starting Ulster XV earlier in the week, will take part in Sundays's opening European Cup match against the Gwent Dragons.
The matter will now be referred to the disciplinary committee of the IRFU Ulster Branch and will be dealt with internally.
MUNSTER (V Bourgoin): J Staunton, J Kelly, M Mullins, J Holland, S Payne; R O'Gara, P Stringer; M Horan, F Sheahan, J Hayes, P O'Connell, D O'Callaghan, J Williams (Captain), D Wallace, A Foley. Replacements: G Mc Ilwham, J Blaney, S Keogh, AN OTHER, E Reddan, R Henderson, M Lawlor
